Finastra https://prathidhwani.org/ en സ്ത്രീധനവും മലയാളിയുടെ വിവാഹസംസ്കാരവും https://prathidhwani.org/srishti/2021/sthreedhanavum-malayaliyude-vivahasamskaravum-ranjini <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--title--rss.html.twig * field--node--title--srishti-entries.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>സ്ത്രീധനവും മലയാളിയുടെ വിവാഹസംസ്കാരവും</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author-s-image--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-author-s-image--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-author-s-image.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-author-s-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-s-image field--type-image field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author&#039;s Image</div> <div class="field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/image/templates/image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2022-01/20211219_180924.jpg" alt="" title="Ranjini V" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/image/templates/image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--uid--rss.html.twig * field--node--uid--srishti-entries.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/189" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">srishtieditor</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--created--rss.html.twig * field--node--created--srishti-entries.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Wed, 01/19/2022 - 22:24</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--node--body--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>ഒരു നാണയത്തിൻെറ  ഇരുവശങ്ങൾ ആയാണ് സ്ത്രീയും ധനവും കണക്കാക്കുന്നത്.മനുസ്മ്രിതിയിൽ നഃ സ്ത്രീ സ്വാന്തന്ത്ര്യമർഹതി എന്ന് രചിച്ച മനു പോലും ചിന്തിക്കാത്ത തലങ്ങളിലേക്ക് സമൂഹം സ്ത്രീയെ കൊണ്ടെത്തിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. ഭരണ ഘടന വിവാഹ പ്രായം ഇരുപത്തിയൊന്നിലേക്കു മാറ്റുവാൻ തീരുമാനിക്കുന്നത് പോലും ഇപ്പോഴും ഉൾക്കൊള്ളുവാൻ കഴിയാത്ത ഒരുപാട് "വ്യക്തിത്വങ്ങൾ" ഇന്നും ഈ ഭൂമുഖത്തുണ്ട്. ഒരു സ്ത്രീ ജനനം എടുക്കുമ്പോൾ തന്നെ മാതാപിതാക്കളെക്കാൾ കൂടുതൽ സമൂഹത്തിനാണ് ആധി. അവളുടെ വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം, വസ്ത്രധാരണം, ശീലങ്ങൾ ഇവക്കെല്ലാം നമ്മുടെ സമൂഹത്തിൽ ചില ചിട്ടവട്ടങ്ങൾ ഒക്കെയുണ്ട്. ഇവൾ മറ്റൊരു വീട്ടിൽ പോകേണ്ടവൾ ആണ് എന്ന പതിവ് പല്ലവി കേട്ടുകൊണ്ടാണ് മിക്ക പെൺകുട്ടികളും വളരുന്നത് തന്നെ. വിവാഹ പ്രായം എത്തിയാൽ മാതാപിതാക്കളുടെ മനസ്സിൽ ആശങ്ക നിറക്കാൻ കുറച്ചു ബന്ധുക്കളും അയൽക്കാരും എന്നും കാണും. നൂറു പവനിൽ കുറഞ്ഞതൊന്നും ചിന്തിക്കാൻ പോലും ആകാത്ത കുറെ അഭ്യസ്തവിദ്യരായ തറവാടികളും ഈ മലയാള നാട്ടിൽ ഉണ്ട്.<br /> വിവാഹം എന്നത് ഒരു ജീവിതകാലം മുഴുവൻ സ്നേഹമെന്ന താലിച്ചരടിൽ കോർത്തിടേണ്ട രണ്ടു ജീവിതങ്ങളാണ് എന്നൊക്കെ ആലങ്കാരികമായി പറയാം എന്നാണ് ഇവരുടെ നിലപാട്. ഫലമോ, സ്വർണം കൊണ്ടും പണം കൊണ്ടും അവളുടെ ജീവിതം ഭാസുരമാകും എന്ന തെറ്റിദ്ധാരണയിൽ സ്ത്രീധനം കൊടുക്കുവാൻ സ്വന്തം കിടപ്പാടംപോലും പണയപ്പെടുത്തുന്ന മാതാപിതാക്കൾ! എന്നാൽ ഇത്രയൊക്കെ ചെയ്തിട്ടും നമ്മുടെ പെണ്മക്കൾ ഭർതൃവീട്ടിൽ സുരക്ഷിതരാണോ? പത്രങ്ങളിൽ ദിവസവും വരുന്ന സ്ത്രീധന മരണങ്ങൾ മലയാളിയുടെ വിവാഹ സംസ്കാരത്തിനെ പൊളിച്ചെഴുതേണ്ട ആവശ്യകതയെകുറിച്ചു നമ്മെ ഓർമപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു. മിക്ക സ്ത്രീകളും സ്ത്രീധന സംബന്ധമായ പീഡനങ്ങൾ നിശബ്ദമായി സഹിക്കുന്നവരാണ്. ഇതിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ വിരോധാഭാസം സ്ത്രീകൾ തന്നെ സ്ത്രീധനത്തിന് വേണ്ടി മുറവിളി കൂട്ടുമ്പോളാണ്. എന്താണ് ഇതിനൊരു പരിഹാരം? വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം, ജോലി, സ്വയരക്ഷ- ഇത്രയും കാര്യങ്ങൾക്കായിരിക്കണം മുൻഗണന. വിവാഹമെന്നത് അവളുടെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ ഒരിക്കലും സ്വപ്നങ്ങളെ ബലികഴിച്ചു കൊണ്ടാകരുത്. വിവാഹത്തിൻെറ പേരിലുള്ള ധൂർത്ത് ഒഴിവാക്കുമെന്ന് ആദ്യമേ തീരുമാനിക്കണം. "മറ്റുള്ളവർ എന്ത് വിചാരിക്കും" എന്ന ചിന്തയേ അരുത്. കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങളെ - അത് ആൺകുഞ്ഞായാലും പെൺകുഞ്ഞായാലും നല്ല വ്യക്തികളായി വളർത്തുക. ഒരു പോലെ സ്നേഹിക്കുക. ഏതു പ്രതിസന്ധിഘട്ടങ്ങളിലും നാം അവരുടെ ഒപ്പം ഉണ്ടാകുമെന്നു ഉറപ്പു നൽകുക. എന്തും തുറന്നു പറയാനുള്ള ഒരു അന്തരീക്ഷം ഉറപ്പു വരുത്തുക. ഒരു വിവാഹാലോചന തുടങ്ങുന്നതിനു മുൻപ് തന്നെ പെൺകുട്ടിയുടെ അഭിപ്രായങ്ങൾക്കു മറ്റെന്തിനേക്കാളും മുൻഗണന കൊടുക്കണം. വിവാഹം കഴിഞ്ഞും പഠിക്കാമല്ലോ എന്ന വാഗ്ദാനങ്ങൾക്കു  ചെവി കൊടുക്കാതിരിക്കുക. ഒരു ജോലി നേടി വിവാഹം എന്ന ഉടമ്പടിയിലേക്കു പ്രവേശിക്കുന്നതാകും അഭികാമ്യം. സമ്പന്നത, തറവാടിത്തം, ഉന്നത പദവി, ഉയർന്ന ശമ്പളം എന്നിവയൊക്കെ സ്ത്രീധനം ആവശ്യപ്പെടാനുള്ള അളവുകോലായി നമ്മുടെ സമൂഹം കണക്കാക്കുന്നു. എന്നാൽ ഇങ്ങനെയുള്ള വിവാഹാലോചനകൾ തുടക്കത്തിലേ ഒഴിവാക്കുക. ഏതു വയസിൽ വിവാഹിതയാകണം എന്നുള്ളത് ഓരോ വ്യക്തിയുടെയും തീരുമാനത്തിന് വിട്ടു കൊടുക്കുക. ഒരു ഔപചാരിക പെണ്ണുകാണലിനു അപ്പുറം വിവാഹ ബന്ധത്തിൽ ഏർപ്പെടാൻ പോകുന്ന രണ്ടു വ്യക്തികളും തുറന്നു സംസാരിക്കേണ്ട ആവശ്യകത ഏറെയാണ്. ഇതോടൊപ്പം രണ്ടു പേരുടെയും മാതാപിതാക്കളുമായും ഒരു തുറന്ന ചർച്ചയാവാം. ഇതിനു ശേഷം മാത്രം വിവാഹ കാര്യത്തിൽ തീരുമാനം എടുക്കുന്നതാകും ഉചിതം.<br /> വിവാഹം എന്നത് സ്വർഗത്തിൽ നടക്കുന്നു എന്ന് പറയുന്നത് കൊണ്ട് ഒരു മാമാങ്കം അല്ല ഉദ്ദേശിക്കുന്നത്. വരനും വധുവിനും അവരുടെ ബന്ധുക്കൾക്കും സ്വസ്ഥമായി പങ്കെടുക്കാനുള്ളതാണ് വിവാഹദിനം. എന്നാൽ ഈ ദിനം തങ്ങളുടെ ആഢ്യത്വം തെളിയിക്കാനുള്ള ഒരു വേദിയായിടാണ് ഇരു കുടുംബങ്ങളും കണക്കാക്കുന്നത്. ഈ ശക്തി പ്രകടനങ്ങൾക്കിടയിൽ മനസ് നിറഞ്ഞു സന്തോഷിക്കാൻ മിക്കവർക്കും കഴിയില്ല. ഇവയെല്ലാം സാമ്പത്തിക സ്ഥിതി കുറഞ്ഞ കുടുംബങ്ങളുടെ ബാധ്യത കൂട്ടുവാൻ മാത്രമേ ഉപകരിക്കൂ.<br /> ഇനി വിവാഹം കഴിഞ്ഞു ഒരുപാട് സ്വപ്നങ്ങളുമായി ഭർതൃഗൃഹത്തിലേക്കു പ്രവേശിക്കുന്ന ഒരു പെൺകുട്ടിക്ക് എല്ലായ്‌പ്പോഴും അവൾ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന ജീവിതം തന്നെ ലഭിക്കണം എന്നില്ല. ബന്ധുക്കൾ ആരെങ്കിലും സ്വർണമോ പണമോ ലഭിച്ചത് കുറഞ്ഞു എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞാൽ, ഭർതൃവീട്ടുകാർക്കു കുറച്ചിലായി. പിന്നീടത് അവളോടും അവളുടെ കുടുംബത്തിനോടും ഉള്ള നീരസമായി പതിയെ പുറത്തു വരും. ചെറിയ കുറ്റപ്പെടുത്തലുകളിൽ തുടങ്ങുന്ന ഈ അനിഷ്ടം പിന്നീട് മാനസികവും ശാരീരികവുമായ ഉപദ്രവങ്ങളിലേക്ക് കടക്കും. ആദ്യമൊക്കെ "സഹിക്കാം" എന്ന ചിന്താഗതിയിൽ എല്ലാം മനസ്സിൽ ഒതുക്കുന്ന മിക്ക പെൺകുട്ടികളും ഈ പീഡനങ്ങളുടെ കാഠിന്യം ഏറുമ്പോളാണ് തങ്ങളുടെ ദുരവസ്ഥ മാതാപിതാക്കളെ അറിയിക്കുന്നത്. മിക്ക മാതാപിതാക്കളും "ഒത്തു ചേർന്ന് പോകു മോളെ" എന്നാണ് മകളെ ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നത്. പിനീട് ഒട്ടും സഹിക്ക വയ്യാത്ത അവസ്ഥയിൽ ആശുപത്രികളിൽ അഭയം തേടുന്ന ചില നിസ്സഹായരെ പോലീസും ബന്ധുക്കളും ഇടപെട്ടു ഒത്ത്‌ തീർപ്പുമായി ഇതേ ഭർതൃഗൃഹത്തിലേക്കു തിരികെ വിടുന്നു. അങ്ങനെയാണ് നാം ഇന്ന് കേൾക്കുന്ന പല ആത്മഹത്യകളുടെയും ഉറവിടം. തൻെറ മാതാപിതാക്കൾ ഒന്ന് വന്നു വിളിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കിൽ എന്ന് മരണത്തിനു മുൻപ് ആ പാവങ്ങൾ ഒരുപാട് ആഗ്രഹിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടാകും. എന്നാൽ ഇതിനു കാരണക്കാർ ആയവർക്ക് ശിക്ഷ ലഭിക്കുന്നുണ്ടോ? ഇനി ലഭിച്ചാൽ തന്നെ അത് ഉചിതമായ ശിക്ഷയാണോ? നമ്മുടെ സമൂഹം സ്വയം അവലോകനം ചെയ്യേണ്ടതാണ്. നിയമം നടപ്പാകുന്നതിലുള്ള കാലതാമസം, നിയമത്തിൻെറ പഴുതുകൾ, ശിക്ഷയുടെ അപര്യാപ്തത ഇവയെല്ലാം ഇത്തരക്കാരെ കൂടുതൽ വളർത്തുവാൻ മാത്രമേ ഉതകൂ. അസുഖം വന്നു ചികിൽസിക്കുന്നതിനേക്കാൾ അസുഖം വരാതെ നോക്കുക എന്ന പഴമൊഴി നമുക്കു ഇവിടെയും പ്രാവർത്തികമാക്കാം. മാറ്റങ്ങൾ തുടങ്ങേണ്ടത് നമ്മുടെ ഗൃഹത്തിൽ നിന്ന് തന്നെയാണ്. പതുക്കെ പതുക്കെ അത് സമൂഹത്തിലേക്കും പകർത്താം. ചിന്തകളിൽ ഉള്ള നല്ല മാറ്റങ്ങൾ പ്രവർത്തികളിലും പ്രതിഫലിച്ചു തുടങ്ങട്ടെ. അങ്ങനെ സ്ത്രീധനം ആവശ്യപെടുന്നവരെ- അത് വിവാഹത്തിന് മുൻപായാലും ശേഷമായാലും- നിർദ്ദാക്ഷിണ്യം ഒഴിവാക്കുവാൻ നമ്മുടെ പെണ്മക്കളെ സുസ്സജ്ജരാക്കുക. എന്നാൽ പെണ്മക്കളെ മാത്രം ബോധവത്കരിച്ചാൽ പോരാ. ചെറുപ്പം മുതൽക്കേ നമ്മുടെ ആൺകുഞ്ഞുങ്ങളെ കൂടി സ്ത്രീധനം എന്ന പ്രഹസനം ഒഴിവാക്കേണ്ട ആവശ്യകതയെ കുറിച്ച് പറഞ്ഞു മനസിലാക്കണം. സതി എന്ന അനാചാരം നിര്ത്തലാക്കിയത് പോലെ സ്ത്രീധനവും നമുക്കു നിർത്താലാക്കാം.</p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-author--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-author.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-author.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author</div> <div class="field__item">Ranjini V</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-company--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-company--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-company.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-company.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-company field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Company</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/172" hreflang="en">Finastra</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-vote--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-vote--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-vote.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-vote.html.twig * field--integer.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-vote field--type-integer field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">vote</div> <div class="field__item">0</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-category--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-category--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-category.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Category</div> <div class="field__item">Article - Malayalam</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-srishti-version--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-srishti-version--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-srishti-version.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-srishti-version.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-srishti-version field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Version</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/srishti-2021" hreflang="en">srishti 2021</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-srishti-comment--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-srishti-comment--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-srishti-comment.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-srishti-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=12877&amp;2=field_srishti_comment&amp;3=srishti_comment" token="_-1KqxiCk-Xv4vhedbDVty3-djKsyN51wU6B0vYG4P8"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Wed, 19 Jan 2022 18:24:48 +0000 srishtieditor 12877 at https://prathidhwani.org https://prathidhwani.org/srishti/2021/sthreedhanavum-malayaliyude-vivahasamskaravum-ranjini#comments pregnant woman https://prathidhwani.org/Srishti2019/English/Story/PregnantWoman <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--title--rss.html.twig * field--node--title--srishti-entries.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>pregnant woman</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--uid--rss.html.twig * field--node--uid--srishti-entries.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/38" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">srishtiadmin</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--created--rss.html.twig * field--node--created--srishti-entries.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Wed, 12/11/2019 - 22:09</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--node--body--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>One fine Sunday morning my wife wakes me up from sleep and told me that We’re going to have a baby!” she said with a gleeful smile</span></span></span><em> </em></span></span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>I was obviously excited; I was going to be a father. Wow! It was all so new and exciting to me. I wasn’t sure how it was going to be or how I was supposed to handle it, but a FATHER?  Wow, again! My happiness knew no bounds, really. I did everything I was told to do by my mother-in-law.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /><span><span><span><span><span><span>Pregnant women need rest, right? A month into the pregnancy thing, I learnt the most important thing about it. As it happens, "pregnancy" is not about having a baby. It's about being sick all the time. I mean it, just ALL THE TIME. It is a series of inconveniences for the husband and wife, in the name of life-making.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /><span><span><span><span><span><span>Btw you're trying to understand how on earth you created something that has a beating heart and consciousness; the next moment, there is puke. It began with morning sickness. I knew that was coming, so I was mentally prepared for it. But soon it made me wonder- honestly, why do they call it 'morning' sickness? It lasts all day and night! It's just... sickness. She had nausea, and it seemed like an eternity of tiredness and vomit all over the place, all the time.  It didn’t even make her feel better! I remember how good it felt those few times I threw up after I drank too much. But apparently, this wasn’t the case here. Suddenly, I didn't understand the human body any more. I didn't understand my wife's body any more :-)<br /> The change is not just physical, but you're constantly in the company of a very vulnerable woman- a woman whom you love so much that your heartaches, and a woman you have suddenly stopped understanding. It's the worst feeling in the world when your WIFE is crying and your arms are just not enough to comfort her any more. Isn’t pregnancy supposed to be a joyful process? I saw no streak of joy visible anywhere! That pregnancy 'glow' that all these movies talk about is an elaborate HOAX.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span> </span></span></span></p> <p><br /><span>I’m just 28 and I’m going to be a parent for the first time. I like my alcohol, my sleep, car and my weekends. So, cut me some slack! I was new to it and yes, so was she. I don’t know how, but she seemed to be able to endure all of it without complaint. Maybe, it was just me. I don’t think men are wired to handle long-term drama and pain. Most of us can endure pain for short </span><span>duration</span><span> of time. Yes, I don’t have any of the biological parts required to produce a baby. But I don’t think I could have handled it even if I did. I don’t see how I could ever deal with whatever comes with pregnancy. It is just something my brain cannot handle, let alone my body. It’s one of those woman things, I guess. They have the in-built patience and resolve to take all of that pain for nine whole months. Living normally while there is human cooking inside you is not a joke; I agree. I feel guilty about giving her a cold shoulder and pretending all the while that this is completely normal; because it is NOT. It is nowhere close to being normal. I’m just glad that her mother was there to take care of her because I couldn’t bring myself to do that. For once, I felt love for my mother-in-law. I could give her the world's biggest hug even now. She didn’t seem like the intimidating and spine-chilling woman that I usually find her to be.</span><br /><br /><span>She went through so much of it without my support. I couldn’t be pregnant with her and I’m glad about it, but we now have a beautiful baby, all thanks to her. All I did was provide the sperm. The best I could do after that was telling her that she looked beautiful and really mean it; I did mean it.</span></p> <p> </p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-author--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-author.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-author.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author</div> <div class="field__item">Madhu Madhavan</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-auth--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-auth--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-auth.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-auth.html.twig * field--email.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-auth field--type-email field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author&#039;s Email</div> <div class="field__item">madhu.vatakara@gmail.com</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-pho--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-pho--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-pho.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-pho.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-pho field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author&#039;s Phone No</div> <div class="field__item">9745056600</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-company--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-company--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-company.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-company.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-company field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Company</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/172" hreflang="en">Finastra</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-vote--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-vote--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-vote.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-vote.html.twig * field--integer.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-vote field--type-integer field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">vote</div> <div class="field__item">441</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-category--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-category--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-category.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Category</div> <div class="field__item">Short Story - English</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-srishti-comment--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-srishti-comment--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-srishti-comment.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-srishti-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=2368&amp;2=field_srishti_comment&amp;3=srishti_comment" token="s2W9Ch3R7MFaBSGWzaSSXXYnP5E2h9n4A9bPPWckuwg"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Wed, 11 Dec 2019 18:09:55 +0000 srishtiadmin 2368 at https://prathidhwani.org https://prathidhwani.org/Srishti2019/English/Story/PregnantWoman#comments Sky Never Falls https://prathidhwani.org/srishti/2018/Sky%20Never%20Falls <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--title--rss.html.twig * field--node--title--srishti-entries.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Sky Never Falls</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--uid--rss.html.twig * field--node--uid--srishti-entries.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/38" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">srishtiadmin</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--created--rss.html.twig * field--node--created--srishti-entries.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Tue, 11/20/2018 - 07:47</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--node--body--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“…6…7…8…9…10 Ready or not, here I come”, I screamed and turned around to find nothing but trees.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Would she hide behind Muthapan, our great banyan tree?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I ran to find none. How about under the heap of clothes in Mani-maman’s tailoring shop?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>No, she hid there last week, she barely repeats her hiding spot. Should I try finding her at all? Is she safe? Would she pull something dangerous like balancing on the ledge of the cliff again? What was she thinking, what if she had slipped that day? I got to make sure she is alright.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Indu, you won, come here and get the victory key”, I shouted and I looked around expecting her to emerge from nowhere.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Indu appeared in my field of vision as soon as I repeated my losing phrase thrice. I handed her the cardboard key I had clenched in my fist.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>No matter how much I implored, she refused to reveal her hiding spot this time. I guess she might be planning to hide in the same spot next time we play with James; it might be a difficult spot to find. For me, all her hiding spots are difficult, I was never successful in finding Indu. But James did find her thrice.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>He doesn’t play with us every day. He is sick.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Come with an umbrella. I get sick when I get drenched in rain”, I told James.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“It’s not fever that makes me sick, but my blood”, he said.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>His blood? Diseased blood? What is blood after all; red water. How would the diseased blood look, maybe green, I don’t like yellow.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Indu’s and mine are red.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>One day we two fell from a tree. She mounted on the second branch with ease, but I couldn’t reach it as I was shorter than Indu. To help me, Indu extended her arm to pull me up, but she lost balance and we both fell off the tree. Indu fell on her head, hit a huge rock. My lower arm was wounded and fractured by the fall, I had a plaster cast on for 2 months. Indu had 3 stitches on her forehead. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>We were in second standard when this accident happened and since then we were always careful while climbing trees and never told Amma when we climbed. Amma forbade us from playing any other game than hide and seek, until we became big girls of 4th standard. She still thinks it is a safe game. I never told about the cliff incident to Amma, what if she stopped us from playing altogether.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Three months ago James fell while playing and scraped his knee. I wanted to see his wounded skin and was betting on green blood. But I was disappointed, his blood was as red as ours. I was sure James was lying to me about his sickness, but couldn’t confront him that day because he was crying. His Amma came running and carried him away soon.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>After that day James played with us only one more time. I still remember the last time we three played together. Like always, he found me within seconds. But as usual it was not easy to find Indu.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>James wasn’t like me, he didn’t look everywhere and he searched for Indu till he got tired. He scanned the area and then he picked 4 to 5 spots, and checked each one patiently.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>That day something was different about him, his quest for Indu intensified by each passing second. He checked 6 spots. Usually he conceded by this time, but not that day. He started running frantically, among the bushes, under the chairs in the nearby tea stall, behind the stack of cycles in Achu Annan’s cycle repair shop. He got tired often and sat on the ground for a few minute before resuming the search. He refused to give up and at one point I did see him wiping his tears. When I sensed he is not ready to give up, I reminded him the rule, “We have to end the game when Ambili Chitta comes”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>He just looked at me hopelessly. And then gazed at Muthapan and ran towards it. He ran faster than my eyes could follow. When my eyes caught him, he was catching his breath, panting and staring at palm leaves on the ground.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I noticed Ambili Chitta approaching us. I ran to James to announce her arrival.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>He slowly moved the leaves. And a smile broke from his lips. Indu was in the pit, which was covered with palm leaves.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Chitta approached us with a smile. She took James in her arms and kissed his cheeks and said, “Your Amma is waiting for you. Why don’t you go home?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I wanted to rejoice his victory, but without a word, he slowly walked away from our sight.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Indu and I looked at the key, in our hands, which belonged to him. But I doubted if he knew the rule – one who had the maximum number of keys by New Year won the game.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I won whenever James hid and that’s when I realized I wasn’t bad at seeking. I won his keys when he hid and lost when I hid.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Indu could not find James in every game. Indu was a sore loser. She doesn’t take it light when James found her when she hid. After our last game with James, she told me, “I didn’t get time to decide where to hide yesterday, I had a lot of homework. James found me by luck”. Though my face empathized with her emotions, I was happy inside.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>One day Amma asked me not to go to James’s place anymore as he is sick and can’t play with us. When I told this to Indu, she took my hand and went to his place. But we saw his Achachan locking the gates. He informed, “James is admitted in hospital and won’t play with you for a long time”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Amma was right”, I murmured.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Indu and I continued playing every day after school. As usual I never found her and she found me all the time. One day instead of taking the straight route home, I took the long one that passes by James’s front gate. I expected to see him sitting in Achachan’s lap singing or listening to a story, but the gate was locked and the garden was unkempt. Puzzled, I walked home.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>We had our class tests and I failed miserably in all the subjects, even in social sciences, my favorite subject. My teachers, especially Kala Miss weren’t pleased with my performance and asked me to bring my parents to school.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I was scared to tell Acha. So, that day, instead of playing we came to my house after school.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Acha was in our veranda applying varnish to the new cupboard he had made. When he saw us, he turned to me with suspicion. Then he spoke to Indu, “Indu, how is this cupboard? Your Acha asked me to make it for you. I shall deliver it to your place tomorrow. Don’t forget to tell your Acha”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>She nodded.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>He continued, but now to me, “Paru, do you know, why her Achan is gifting her this cupboard?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I stood clueless.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Indu, stood first in class”, he said and smiled. He added, “By the way, I never got to see your marks”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Indu and I looked at each other.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I cursed the moment I thought of inviting her to my place, I should have known better; our parents were also friends.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Acha went back to varnishing. Without looking at us, he asked, “Why are you home so early?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Indu ran into the house and signaled me to follow. She told it is better to talk to Amma.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Amma was in kitchen preparing dinner. She was surprised to see us home at this hour. She smiled with suspicion. “What are you girls up to? Why are you home this early?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Indu started, “Aunty, we had our class tests” I tried to stop her. She didn’t bother to stop. And she stated our intent of visit.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Amma had a serious expression. She turned to me and asked my marks for each subject. Amma never had asked my marks before. I sensed trouble from her eyes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“When does your teacher want to see us?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Tomorrow”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“I will tell your Acha tonight. You need not worry.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Indu smiled at me as if we got worried for nothing and asked if we could go and play. I didn’t want to play. I could sense her disappointment and she left home.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Next day when I woke up, I felt funny. When Amma came to wake me up I was already awake. She came and lay next to me. She felt my forehead, as if something was wrong and she whispered, “Dear, were you out in sun yesterday?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I shook my head.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>She walked out calling Acha. He came running, he placed his hand over my forehead and took my palm and placed over his face. He turned back and told Amma, “We need to see a doctor”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Amma got me ready and Acha carried me over to the clinic near the bus stop. The doctor examined me and gave Amma the prescription and told the frequency of medication.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>On our way back, I reminded Amma about school. She glanced at Acha. He asked us to go back home and said he will go to school and speak to Kala Miss.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Amma fed me breakfast and gave me a bitter tablet. She laughed at my expression on tasting the medicine. Amma made me lie down and started narrating stories of Muthapan.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Once there was a small boy who wanted hundred legs. He prayed to Almighty and on his hundredth day of penance, God appeared. When the boy was asked for a wish, he told he needed hundred legs. God thought for a while and said, ‘I can give you hundred legs but you can’t walk and have to stand in one place for the rest of your life’.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>The little boy got so excited that he agreed for the trade off and God made him the banyan tree, our Muthapan. Now Muthapan cries every night for inviting his immobility”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>My eyes slowly closed. I could feel Amma sliding away from me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I ran around Muthapan and saw a perfect white rock with no sharp edges. It didn’t pain when I held the rock. It was cold and felt good against my skin.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Hey, you found my stone”, James came running.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“I found this one”, I retorted.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>James looked pale, it pained me to see his face and I handed him the stone and asked where he was. He hesitated to answer my question and asked, “When are we playing?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Evening as usual”, I said.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“You look sad”, James said. “Did you succeed at finding Indu after I left?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I looked at the ground and muttered “No”. Then I looked at him and asked, “How did you find her 3 times?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>He corrected, “4 times. Indu decides where to hide, not when we reach the play area, but the day before; usually whenever I win, I know I will play with you both the next day and chalk out the possible places she hides”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>My eyes twinkled at his stratagem. “How do you know where she hides, the previous day itself?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>He smiled as a response. “Listen, let me tell you where to find her today”, he said and whispered a spot in my ear.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Acha’s stroke on my head woke me up. On seeing him, I sat up, “He is back after speaking to Kala Miss”. He patted me on my shoulders and said, “Look, my Paru all healthy now; a tablet and Acha’s Paru is back”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Amma was relieved on hearing this. She came to feel my forehead.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“The doctor is good”, she said to nobody.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I couldn’t hide my inquisitiveness about Acha’s rendezvous with Kala Miss. Since Acha was in a jovial mood, I gathered that Kala Miss might not have scolded me much. I asked him, “What happened at school?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>He looked at me and said, “She really likes you, Paru. She told since two months, you have seemed very distracted and paid less attention in class and scored less. She wanted to know if there was something wrong at home.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Amma pitched in, “But there was nothing wrong in our house but it has been two months since Ja…”, she stopped abruptly.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I looked at her wondering what happened two months ago. Acha lifted me to his lap and he hugged me tight. He started swinging and said,”Paru baby is smart, she will start doing good at school again, isn’t it dear?” he looked at me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I didn’t want to disappoint him and nodded my head in agreement. Then he started singing the old folk song my Appupan used to sing to me when I was small. I slept again in his arms.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>It was evening when Amma woke me up. She told Indu was at door checking on me. I opened my eyes and saw Indu entering my room, she came and sat next to me. I jumped up and said, “Let’s play”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>She looked at my Amma yearningly. Amma touched my forehead and said, “Paru was burning this morning, Indu” and asked me if I wanted to play.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I insisted on playing because I was feeling bored being at home all day; Amma understood and allowed me to play. Happily I ran to the play area with Indu.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I ran and touched Muthapan first and that made me eligible to count and Indu to hide. I counted till 10. “Ready or not, here I come”, I shouted. I turned around and the hiding prodigy has done her magic again. Clueless, as usual, I thought to myself and started my initial survey, behind trees and bushes and I stopped. I remembered my dream and ran to the small mango tree in front of Ammini Valyama’s house. But I didn’t see her. It was just a dream and I decided to retire, but something prompted me to walk till the tree-foot and look up. I did the same, there was no sign of her, but I saw a branch leading to the sunshade. I followed the path to the sunshade and there she was, munching a raw mango. I couldn’t believe I was uttering those words, “You hide or not, victory is mine”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Indu was as startled as I was. There was a moment of silence, a silence neither of us was prepared for. She stood and without saying a word, gave me the key and walked through the branch that led her to the ground. I stood there holding the key, goosebumps all over me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Elated I reached home. Amma was at the doorstep. She felt my forehead.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“There is no trace of fever darling”, she smiled and took me to kitchen and served dinner. After dinner she gave me the tablet, this time I carefully placed the tablet deep in my throat, careful not to touch the tongue and drank water immediately. I mocked Amma as she was expecting the funny faces I made while I tasted the bitter medicine.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>She prepared my bed and slept with me that night.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Like before, James came in my dream and helped me with Indu’s hiding spot.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>While having breakfast next day I enquired about James. Amma said James and family moved to his Aunt’s place in Pala.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>After school, Indu and I started our game. I could find her out again.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Every night James helped me with Indu’s hiding spot and I started collecting her keys in every game. And what surprised me was at times when I hid, Indu couldn’t find me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I started concentrating in class and Indu started helping me with lessons when she felt I fell short. Kala Miss appreciated my progress and active participation in class. Every day when I woke up, I remembered the hiding spot James told me in my last night’s dream. I was eager to go to school so that I could find Indu when she hid. I was sure I will win the game.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I counted the keys I gained and gathered, “If I continue this winning streak, without any doubt, I will have more than enough keys by New Year, even if Amma doesn’t allow us to play during exams and if we go to Valsala Appachi’s place on Christmas holidays”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>After counting, with an arrogant confidence I slept.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Next day when I woke up, I realized, James didn’t come to my dream last night.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“I will fail to find her out today”, I was sure.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I started panicking. Anxiety engulfed me. I didn’t want to go to school. I need to fake an illness. Stomach ache? Headache? Amma barged into my room. “Good morning honey”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I pretended to be asleep, I needed more time to come up with a plan to avoid school. She walked up to my bed and took me in her arms. I realized it was too late; I couldn’t pretend any more.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“I don’t want to go to school today”, I spurted out.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Her sweet demeanor changed, without giving me much time to put across my point, she made it clear, no matter what, I ought to attend school.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I got ready for school and expressed my indifference during my breakfast. Amma paid no heed to my agony. Acha dropped me at school.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I hardly heard what the teacher was teaching in class. I blamed myself for not remembering what James told in my dream last night. For, I was sure, I deserved help from James. I kept looking at Indu hoping her backing out from game after school. But she was at pink of her health and nothing discernable could stop her from playing that day.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Our classes were over. Indu came inviting me for the game. She seemed monstrously interested in the game that day. I tried wriggling out of the game but she was appallingly adamant. Finally I surrendered. She suggested playing at school than around Muthapan. Location hardly made any difference to me, so I agreed. And she volunteered to hide. Again, it made no difference to me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I started counting 1…2…3… while my thoughts crawled through the valleys of troughs I have never experienced.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Nothing good will ever last in my life, even the recent happiness is taken away from me; all good things are temporary”, I thought.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“…7…8….9…10… Ready or not, here I come”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Apathy was evident in my voice. Passively I looked around.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>A blankness overpowered me as if hit by a truck or struck by a lightening, all I saw was emptiness, and all I heard was a high pitched squeak. I covered my ears.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Suddenly, a sequence of events flashed before my eyes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I saw Indu in her new green davani, shouting, “Paru, this is my new dress, got stitched from Mani-maman’s shop, there are a lot of clothes lying on his shop floor”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Then, I saw a news footage featuring an uncle standing on the cliff ledge. He was celebrated across the world for his bravery.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Then, I remembered my teacher telling us about squirrels burrowing.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>There was a pause.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I saw Ramu from our class. Today he was raving about how big the new cupboard in our sports room is and how he can fit himself in the shelf where we keep our cricket bats.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>My vision stopped and I was snapped back to reality.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I ran towards our sports room. The door was half closed, I stretched my arms to push it open. My grip on the cardboard key loosened and it slid from my hand. I saw the cardboard piece lying on the ground.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I stopped and shouted, “Indu, you won, come here and get the victory key”.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I turned, smiled at myself, and slowly walked towards Muthapan.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-author--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-author.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-author.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author</div> <div class="field__item">Sarika J</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-auth--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-auth--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-auth.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-auth.html.twig * field--email.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-auth field--type-email field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author&#039;s Email</div> <div class="field__item">sarika.jnair@gmail.com</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-pho--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-pho--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-pho.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-pho.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-pho field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author&#039;s Phone No</div> <div class="field__item">9037032100</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-company--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-company--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-company.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-company.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-company field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Company</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/172" hreflang="en">Finastra</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-vote--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-vote--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-vote.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-vote.html.twig * field--integer.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-vote field--type-integer field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">vote</div> <div class="field__item">0</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-category--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-category--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-category.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Category</div> <div class="field__item">Short Story - English</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-srishti-comment--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-srishti-comment--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-srishti-comment.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-srishti-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=1245&amp;2=field_srishti_comment&amp;3=srishti_comment" token="t2oGpGXUahHJNjIxnqmU6miwCs2-DsS4KoJKLBLihEo"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Tue, 20 Nov 2018 03:47:10 +0000 srishtiadmin 1245 at https://prathidhwani.org https://prathidhwani.org/srishti/2018/Sky%20Never%20Falls#comments The Journey https://prathidhwani.org/srishti/2018/The_Journey <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--title--rss.html.twig * field--node--title--srishti-entries.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>The Journey</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--uid--rss.html.twig * field--node--uid--srishti-entries.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/38" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">srishtiadmin</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/user/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--created--rss.html.twig * field--node--created--srishti-entries.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Sun, 11/18/2018 - 18:42</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/navigation/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--node--body--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Sleeping was not easy, knowing</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>that the house was not cleaned,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>the puppy was not fed,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>and the plants were not watered..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>My little grandchild, came to me</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>complaining about a lost doll..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I wish to hug her,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Take her in my lap and say,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>It is right there under the bed, honey</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>But i couldn't do that..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>The dearest school friend, my confidante</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Murmured something strange</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Might be some old jest,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>but the words fizzled out..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I wish to giggle with her</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Pinch her hand and laugh</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>But i couldn't do that..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>His gentle touch, reminded me</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>the very first kick in my womb..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>The same warmth, of that tiny body</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>when he, the sweetest facsimile of his father,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>was first laid beside me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I wish to ask him, the usual shabby question</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>"Did you eat something darling?"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>But i couldn't do that..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I see the younger me, in her</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>The jovial girl who, by and by</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>became our daughter, our beloved one..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I wish to say to her, "I'll miss your company,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Take care of these fragile souls, dear</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Once i leave from here".</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>But i couldn't do that..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>His breath, still smells like</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>the first red rose he gave me..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Upset, and will shout at me, for sure</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>If i say goodbye to him</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I know, i will be leaving</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>a helpless, perished man behind..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I wish to say to him, "Please come with me,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>as you do all the time.."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>But i couldn't do that..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>And then, i woke up </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>to the smell of mango wood, burning around me</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I feel I am back home</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Sitting in an old swing, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>in that shady mango tree</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Living in a lucid dream,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Seen by someone else..</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-author--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-author.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-author.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author</div> <div class="field__item">Raji Chandran </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-company--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-company--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-company.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-company.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-company field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Company</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/172" hreflang="en">Finastra</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-vote--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-vote--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-vote.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-vote.html.twig * field--integer.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-vote field--type-integer field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">vote</div> <div class="field__item">0</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-category--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-category--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-category.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Category</div> <div class="field__item">Poem - English</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/gavias_remito/templates/fields/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-srishti-comment--rss.html.twig * field--node--field-srishti-comment--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--node--field-srishti-comment.html.twig * field--node--srishti-entries.html.twig * field--field-srishti-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=1169&amp;2=field_srishti_comment&amp;3=srishti_comment" token="E4XBhfPPc501jMQvmQsexFLsdgeryDzZqaIpcAVbc0s"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Sun, 18 Nov 2018 14:42:14 +0000 srishtiadmin 1169 at https://prathidhwani.org https://prathidhwani.org/srishti/2018/The_Journey#comments