Petals of Life

Many a times, we hear our elders saying, "Don't go against your conscience, 'coz it will land you in trouble". But most of the time, we do actually go against it and end up making a lot of mistakes. And then we say proudly, "I learnt from my mistake". But why make a mistake and learn, when our conscience clearly tells us that it is a mistake already. Being human, we tend to be curious towards what is denied to us. So, when our conscience says, "You shouldn't be doing this", we seldom pay attention and go on to do it anyway. This sometimes results in huge blunders or rarely accidental success. But first lets know, What is CONSCIENCE? It is a set of instinctual principles that is inherent to all sane human beings. Some might call it as MORAL sense and some might acknowledge it as the Speech-of-Soul. Whatever be it, it is an inner voice, which calls out when we are doing something unacceptable and points out a better way.  People s...

Normally, I try my best not to discriminate between genders. But almost every day, I face the discrimination, either to my advantage or to a worrisome disadvantage.  In a country where Boys are assumed to be a more productive offspring than Girls, it is not surprising to face gender discrimination. But still, it surprises me every time I face it, because even for trivial matters, people start discriminating. I was brought up in a liberal household, given freedom from discrimination, until I came to what they deemed as "marriageable age". Roaming out after hours was not allowed, staying at even close friend's place for too long was forbidden, talking with guys outside family wasn't allowed, dressing conservatively was a must and suddenly, being religious and offering pujas for getting a good husband was top priority. And then came the topic of Dowry. To someone as me, who grew up thwarting guys in education, having a bunch of girls as friends who are exce...

Many a times, we face a situation, where we cannot say yes nor can we say no. Be it with friends, lovers, family or children, we hesitate out of courtesy, fear or indecisiveness. And that hesitation, may cause far more greater problems which are more complicated than saying a simple yet fir YES or NO.        Being firm on your part, about your concerns, ideas and privacy is very important in life. It is Your Life at the end of the day that matters, not what the others think or feel about you. People who are with you today, may not be with you tomorrow. But you will always be with yourself so it is necessary to have a clear conscience with nearly no regrets so that you can lead a happy and peaceful life.        A famous idiom says, ONCE BITTEN TWICE SHY. Which means, that once you have experienced something bad, you would think twice before entering in any situation which you think would lead to that bad experience again. You would always...

A few days ago, when I was reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for the umpteenth time, I came to the part where Professor Dumbledore explains to Harry about the self-fulfilling nature of the prophecy that Trelawney had predicted.       Indeed, like Dumbledore said, if Voldemort had not killed Harry's parents and made him an orphan along with giving him his own powers, Harry wouldn't have thought about killing Voldemort. He would have grown up like any other kid and maybe, he would have even be afraid of Lord Voldemort, if Voldemort hadn't done the atrocious murder.      Self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior. Suppose, you get scolded by your teacher at school because of your clumsy work. Then every morning you would go to school believing that your teacher would definitely sco...

Slowly she picks up her way, walking with her silver anklets, her hair tied in a loose bun, her ears decked with shiny trinkets.. Her brown skin, showing off, around her waist, as she walks, a bright saree she draped, her voluptuous curves it chalks.. All the day, she plods at home, cooking, cleaning and caring, humming cheerfully all along, no matter howsoever wearing.. She wakes up in the morning, a dutiful housewife she's then, cooks and feeds like a mother, to her man and her children.. Picks up groceries and goods, with a neatly planned budget, like a minister of finance, though not aware of the subject.. When she puts her child to bed, at night she sings lullabies, then to her man she delights, melting away all her shies..

When my friend commented that my life is unusually messy, I smiled a little thinking what would she say if I confided everything that has been going on in my life. Everyone says "Life isn't Fair", but what people don't understand is that Life is already Fair, its just us who don't realize it. But, this philosophy doesn't work out always. Life is always fraught with complications. No one has an easy way out, though there are different levels of complications in life. For someone your life would seem picture perfect while you would bee jealous of their way of life. If you are financially sound, then you would crave for family and happiness. If you have a caring family, then you would strive for financial success. If you are happy with the way things are in your life, then you have to endure the jealousy of other people who just can't bear your happiness. And so on, so forth goes the complications in life. We pray everyday, visit temples and mosque...

Life is at crossroad, Love is at crossroad, which way should I take, which train should I board.. Should I hold the hands of, the person whom I am in love, or should I give my hand in, betrothel to an unknown and bow?? should I go foward to take, the less trodden new way, or should I go back to safety, to where my cozy home lay.. I cannot give, nor can I take, from what fate has decreed on me, but still I try and strive to, make choice that sets my will free..

Midnight note struck, a strange melancholy, and a few stranded pedestrians ran for shelter.. Rain was now falling, neither thick nor cold, as I turned around, to see my shadow falter.. Slowly I made my way, amid the street lamps, that cast misty glow, alternating darkness of light.. I drew my cloak closer, though it wasnt chilling, my shadow laced to me by the seamstress light.. I sat in a corner, brooding over life, and turned to face my shadow, dutifully beside me.. I thought "will it be there, even after I die?, as death breaks all bonds, will my shadow abide?".. I bent a little to touch it, as it did the same, though there was none around, it felt foolish to do so.. with a sigh I got up and continued forward, the temptress journey of life, chaperoned by my shadow..

పల్లవి: ఆకాశమంత నా హృదయం లో చిరుఝాల్లు కురిపించే మబ్బులా వచావు చినుకంత వానవని అనుకుంటే వరదంత ప్రేమలో నన్ను ముంచావు అందాల వర్ణాల లోకాన్నే నా నీలి కన్నుల్లో చేర్చావు ఆశల్లో చూశే ప్రపంచాన్ని నా ముందు తీసుకొచ్చి నిలిపావు నా గుండెల్లో ఈ సవ్వడే .. ఒక అలజడై , ఆనందమై .. నాకే తెలియని నా నువ్వు అయ్యావు .. చరణం 1: చలి గాలుల్లో వెచ్చని పానుఫై నడి వేసవిలో జడి వానవై చిగురాకులలో కూసే కోయిలవై వసంతంలో చూశే హరివిల్లువై ఆ చంద్రున్నే చేరే చక్రవాకంలా ఆకాశంలో ఊగే వెలుగు తారలా నా ఊపిరయ్యి ఈ జన్మంతా .. ఒక దీవేనై నడిపే దీపమై .. నా ప్రాణం కె నువ్వు ప్రానమయ్యావు .. చరణం 2: ఆవేశం లో ఆనందమై నా కోపాన్ని కరిగించే నవ్వువై కనుపాపల్లో కవ్వించే కయిపువై కలకాలమంత నేనే నువ్వయ్యి రేయంత పలికే చిలిపి రాగంలా సందేలో చిలికే చిరునవ్వులా నా కోసమే నీ ప్రేమని .. ఒక వరంగా , కానుకగా .. నా ఆణువణువూ నీవే నీవే అయ్యావు ..

When was the last time you played with your neighbor's kid? When was the last time you asked the old man in your building carrying a bunch of vegetables if he wants help? When was the last time you kissed the little baby in your apartment who turned a year old? When was the last time you talked with any of your neighbors? Do you even know their names and what they do? People living in cities seldom find time to socialize. What with the advent of software jobs, PCs, Smartphones, PlayStations, Webchats and other media, we remain completely unaware of what is happening within a mile around us. We have great knowledge about an earthquake that ravaged a distant country, but woefully remain ignorant of the little accident that happened to our neighbor's little girl when she fell down right in front of our home. We discuss about terrorism in online forums and communities, but don't even have slightest clue on how valiantly the old man residing opposite to us fou...

The Sky so High P rologue         The sky was shining with milky white stars and was stunningly beautiful. The twisting Ganges flowing down reflected the shine of these celestial things. But these bright beauties were nothing when compared to other things that were zooming across the sky tearing the heavenly peace…        ZOOOOM… went a missile narrowly missing the black fighter flight that belonged to the wing-commander Nandini of Indian air force. She looked at the flight, which did this, aimed at it and shot a missile in return. The aim so perfect that there was a ball of fire for a moment and then the sky was clear behind. Just then a message flashed on the control panel that the enemy had surrendered. She roared in triumph and started towards the army base camp. Now what was this alert? She turned her head towards the radar system and found a missile heading towards her. She realized that it was target-aimed at her. She ju...

The light breeze blew the hair, touching the rosy cheeks with loving care. The eyes looked up into the sky, beyond the stars, what must lie? The light pink blush filled the cheek, as the night drew up to the peak. The sea blue eyes, filled up with delight, as they found this wonderful sight. The silky black sky, with pearly stars, shining milky way, full of silver bars. The spotted moon threw a spotless light, that descended to earth in a graceful plight. It showered the warmth, to the eye, the joy, scattering through the night, like a dancing toy. But as the hours drifted slowly by, the moon went away, heaving a sigh. Now came the sun, brightening the place, spreading the rays, in an ivy lace...