Dainty flick of wrist
Quick mental whisk
Salty dew drops

Shared tender love
Tendrils of affection
Kisses, make up

Aching heart heavy
Mourns memory loss
Time robbed us both honey!

picture from internet

She came into her own after many a blood shed.  The quiet streets became her stomping grounds.  Anyone vunerable she found,  she overcame, cannibalized. Slowly her tentacles spread everywhere.  Her victims felt like death warmed up.   

The hush could be sliced with a knife!  Everyone watched with bated breath.  After extensive testing a lethal injection had been prepared with no side effects.  Specialists had gathered to watch.   

“My rule is over”. 

Headlines blared.  Medical breakthrough.  Aids vaccine found.

Baba was a cobbler and polished shoes also.  In his skilled hands even old worn out shoes got a new lease in life.    His mom sewed and repaired for the neighborhood on an ancient machine which was diligently oiled and kept fit.  The three children attended the local school as their baba wanted them to find another profession as cobblers had meager earnings.

Shomu always considered himself a winner and often wished he could change his name to Victor.  He was very fond of this word which he had learnt in his English class.  Slowly the family started calling him Vicky to please him and the old name Shomu was forgotten.

After school, Vicky would run home and help his brothers with homework and his beloved amu with household chores before joining his baba.  He relished polishing shoes and make them shine.  Baba would indulge him but only after ensuring that he had finished his school homework.  Vicky would whistle happily and shine shoes to his heart’s content.  He always got a bit more in tips than his baba.  It was mainly his happy face and cheerful manner that pleased their clientele. 

Vicky had just turned sixteen when he was forced to run his baba’s shoe repair business alone as they’d lost him tragically when a bus with failed brakes mowed him down along with others in its path.  After a lot of hue and cry the bus owners had given each victim’s family a large sum of money.  Vicky’s amu had quickly banked the money for her sons’ higher education and in case there was an emergency.  Vicky joined night school so that he could work in morning to help amu manage the house.  He also ensured that his brothers studied hard and did not get into bad company.

Sen Dada was a regular customer of his baba and now Victor’s. He was in the lottery business.  Each month he’d jested with baba that he should buy a lottery ticket as he’d surely win.  Sen Dada always told baba he was a lucky man indeed with three obedient sons and a hard working bahu (wife).  Baba had remained impassive and always refused
to buy a lottery ticket that cost Rupees twenty.  Now again, Sen Dada tried to sell the lottery ticket.  But Victor stuck to his guns and shook his head and continued shining the shoes.  The shoes literally glistened and Sen Dada could see his face in them.  He was delighted and decided to gift a lottery ticket instead of paying for his shoeshine.  Victor in a weak moment accepted the ticket, breaking his baba’s rule.  He apologized to baba in his heart.

On his way home, Victor stopped at the nearby Durgabaari

and placed the ticket in front of Kali Ma asking for her blessing.  He also told Kali Ma that as far back as he could recall he had always felt like a winner and maybe this ticket would get his family out of poverty and a better way of life.  Then he sped home.

The lottery was a bumper one and the prize money was a whopping fifty lakh rupees.  Every Calcuttan who could afford twenty bucks had bought a ticket.  The momentum had built up and the excitement was palpable and could be cut with a knife.  The madness and razor edge excitement was akin to the one when India played cricket with their arch enemies Pakistan.  Next morning was the drawing day. 

Sen Dada always kept ten tickets for himself.  Now he held nine as the tenth one he had gifted to Victor. 

The numbers were announced and everyone rushed to buy the evening paper as it carried the results in print.  Victor had been so busy whole day long that he had completely forgotten about the ticket.    Suddenly he heard sounds of drum beats approaching as a group of ten of so of his friends and family approached with Sen Dada leading them.

Dada came near and embraced him like a son.  He said, “Victor, you are indeed a Victor.  Your ticket has won the prize money.”  Victor’s mouth fell open.  Then pure joy coursed through his veins making him giddy with happiness.  He pulled the ticket out of his pocket and it matched the numbers in the evening paper.  Suddenly Victor uttered the words, “Where should I keep it, what should I do?  Where should I keep it, what should I do?”  He kept muttering these sentences over and over again.  Victor had lost his mind after his victory!

http://www.binaguptapoetry.com/vicors-dream-part-two-1106.htm

all pictures are from the internet disclaimer

A Journey- a Connection

Sometimes, certain journeys are like a renaissance painting, a bit blurred but pleasant on the eye and soul soothing.  Such were the trips we’d made consecutively a few years ago during our visit to India.

My sister has great faith in this particular Devi shrine in Himachal and both times she was delighted to have us n make it a family outing.

We piled into a Tata Sumo van in wee hours.  Bro-in-law’s  best friend Jay likes to drive.  After invoking  Hindu god Ganesh and   goddess shakti also knowns as “devi” we were on our way.  Jay is a diehard fan of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan hence out of his copious pockets he withdrew some tapes and we were treated to some soulful sufi music.   We were entranced.  The mood was set for the trip.

I have absolutely no road sense, so will only dwell on what my mind captured on these trips.  On our way after several hours, I recall having a sumptuous meal at a  (roadside diner)   Dhaba.  Then we were climbing the mountains and the hairpin curves around white limestone/sandstone cliffs were rather daunting.  Luckily none of us was nauseous and then we had halted midway up the mountain at a Shiva shrine inside a cave.  This was a natural cave temple of Trilokpur containing a stalactite and stalagamite dedicated to Shiva. High on the ridge of the cave we saw the ruins of a palace and baradari (audience hall). Ihe Shiva temple was very ancient and we had to bend very low to enter this shrine.  Outside, there was a lovely waterfall(banganga) and I felt this is how mount Kailash would be with Ganga flowing out of the Shiva locks as he meditated.

  After paying due obeisance we were on our way reluctant to leave as it was very peaceful high up in the mountains. The Kangra valley is one of the most picturesque valleys of lower Himalayas. Ancient Hindu Temples like Bajreshwari Devi, Chamunda Devi, Baijnath Shiv temple and Jwala Devi ji dot the country side. The valley, sheltered by the sublime Dhauladhar range, is green and luxuriant. It provides a tremendous contrast in nature.

I recall visiting the various “Devi” shrine during these trips. The one place that completely enchanted me was this ancient shrine of Mata called Bagalamukhi.    The Bankhandi temple is located on the Dehra-Dharamsala road, Kangra. There had been a rock fall and a good portion had fallen inwards inside the cave itself.  The inner sanctorum was intact and the caretakers had built a small entrance and veranda around it.  Belief had it that whatever boon you ask there will be fulfilled.  My sister firmly believed in it after a narrow escape and her husband had promised  the Devi that he would return to give thanks and hold a langar (lunch)for the local children and their families. 

After due respects everyone was busy mustering up the locals and preparing for the langar feast.  I absorbed the peace and tranquility of the place.  It was incredible.  The aura and the vibrations were amazing.  Mercifully there were no crowds and in fact at that time we were the only ones there.  I was allowed to sit in the inner sanctorum and the bliss was tangible.  I closed my eyes and meditated.  I was transported.  It was almost an out of body experience.  I was floating and drawn towards the deity. Peace descended on my bruised spirit like a soothing salve.  The Mother had taken me in her arms and removed all my hurts absorbing them and filling the void with love.  I was in a blissful state.  had journeyed within and without. This shrine’s power was quite potent and I felt it fully. I cherish this experience holding it close to my heart.

*In Hinduism, Bagalamukhi or Bagala is one of the ten mahavidya goddesses. Bagalamukhi Devi smashes the devotee’s misconceptions and delusions by her cudgel. She is also known as Pitambara in Northern Parts of India. (wiki)

**Kangra HP, rich in culture and history is sheltered by the massive Dhauladhar range of mountains and this majestic mountain range surpasses all others in its grandeur The history of Kangra valley dates back to vedic times, more than 3,500 years ago. It finds mention in the Puranas the Mahabharta and in Rajtarangani. Kangra valley is one of the most picturesque valleys in the Himalayas. The famous Bajeshwari Devi temple is located in the town.  Kangra town is situated at the confluence of the Baner and Majhi streams, overlooking the Banganga torrent famous for temples, forts and now a speedily emerging as a business centre. There are two other important Hill stations in district Kangra known as Dharamsala and Palampur. All in all, Kangra with a numerous important temples is a great destination for people looking to go on a religious holiday escape.

Dharamshala is full of Buddhist air and McLeod Ganj is Dalai Lama’s official residence, and home to several Buddhist monasteries and thousands of Tibetan refugees.  We got a taste of mini Tibet here.  The shrine of Budhha was very majestic and peaceful. (Source-internet)

pics. from internet

 
Maya sat curled like a red ball waiting for her newly minted husband.  She barely knew him as things had moved too fast and all events for past month were a blur.  Her heart was still grieving for dad and mom.  Now grief jostled with trepidation, excitement and fear.  She was still a virgin even though was cognizant of the birds and bees.  Her heart was palpitating.  Suddenly there was a scuffle outside her door and then her husband Yogi was pushed inside by his family and the door locked from outside.  Maya curled further.  Yogi gradually came to her and asked her to wear a comfortable nightdress.  She quickly nodded and changed in the adjacent bathroom.  He was already under the sheets waiting for her.  Turning off the lights she crept in.  Then began the assault on her body.  He grabbed her and raped her without any foreplay.  She was taken aback and bit back her angry tears.  Soon he was snoring and she was sobbing heart broken.  All her conjured visions of a Mills and Boon romance had bitten the dust.  Her shamed spirit covered itself.  Her hometown Mumbai had become alien. Her tender heart became numb-
A frozen block of ice.
 

 
Honeymoon at home in USA was also a nightmare.  His passion was insatiable whilst her dreams had fled.  Away from her old moorings she was lost.  Friendless and penniless she was at the mercy of this devil, her husband.  Her mind was boggled.  She had to save herself and keep her sanity happen what may.  Pride forbade her from confiding in her kith and kin.  She bided her time.  The dulled stars in her eyes now shone with a resolve to rise above this degradation.  Besides carnal assault she also had to suffer emotional domination.  In self preservation, she began to live and survive in a beautiful parallel world created by her mind.  When the going got tough, she fled into her personal wonderland.  This proved to be life saver and helped in maintaining her sanity.    
 

 
Conditioning did its job well and she fell into the groove of a dutiful wife and mother of twins.  The arrival  of babies gave her a new lease to life and it changed for the better.  Still she felt enslaved as she had no voice of her own.  Her opinions did not matter.  He had the final say.  Now this autocracy made no new bruise on her psyche.  Now during sex, she would conjure up the latest heart throb from her morning dose of soap opera stars and it became bearable. Other times she tolerated it as though swallowing  that awful cod liver oil in childhood.  She showered all her pent up love on her children and tried to bring them up to the best of her ability.  She continued doing yoga which was a second habit from childhood.  This helped maintain her body and soul.  Her spirit stayed numb.
 
 
Dr. Yogi Desai was young and handsome and was not averse to fooling around with his staff.  Late nights and emergencies made him stay overnight in the hospital and often he was away on medical conferences as well.  The twins had started nursery school and now she had free time.  Maya was quite imaginative and soon started writing short stories for children.

As a lark, she sent them to some local “Parent” publications and they got accepted.  In fact they were well received and she was encouraged to send more.  Emboldened, she sent out feelers to local papers to be a columnist.  She was told to get a degree in journalism before venturing in this field.  She determined to do just that.    She finished a journalism course online and got her degree.  Yogi paid for this without a murmur.  She was proud of herself and celebrated it with her twins.  Yogi had no time for her and was only interested in his kids.  In the interim they had applied for her US citizenship and she was now a US citizen with a valid passport and she already had a driving license.
She was somebody in her own right.  

 
Again she sent out feelers to the local and national rags and was accepted by a couple.  She would send in sensitive social and topical pieces and soon her Pseudonym Nancy Dee (Nancy Drew derivative) became respected and other papers sought columns from her.  She started making good money.  Yogi was not happy.  He did not like his wife growing wings and daring to come up from air from underneath his heavy foot.  She rejoiced, he sulked.  
 

 TV channels had started hiring doctors and news staff from Asian countries.  One of the major channels sent her an interview letter and she was beside herself with joy.  She went ahead and made an appointment.  The gods were on her side.  The twins were already in junior high and doing well.  His parents were with them for six months and so she had no worries.  The interview went well and she became the anchor of channel CPS.  She had arrived on her own steam.  Now was the time to molt.  She was ready to revolt.
 

 
Quietly she went to see an attorney and filed for divorce papers.  Yogi and his parents were stunned.  The twins had been gradually prepared by her and were stoic.  They were close to both parents but preferred mom.  Yogi fought for the custody of his children.  The court asked the twins and they opted for their mom.  Finally Maya molted skin of slavery sloughing it off and regaining her own self for self.  Her mental and real world fused to become one.  She was at peace.  It took sixteen years to come out of her marital slavery.   She had decided who to let walk away, who to let stay, and who to refuse to let go.  No one would ever dominate over her ever again.  She would call the shots for herself.  Her brave spirit would not let her indulge in a meltdown when the going was tough.  Now she allowed herself the luxury of thawing.  She wept away rivers for all the ignominies her battered spirit had borne.  she was cleansed.

(p.s.: this is based on various horror stories heard over the years from various transplanted blooms from India.)

***   ***   ***

 Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.
Seneca 4 B.C. ? 65 A.D., Spanish-born Roman Statesman, philosopher

Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.
Herbert Hoover American, President

There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit,
no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.
Ronald Reagan  American, President

The human spirit needs to accomplish, to achieve, to triumph to be happy
It is inevitable that some defeat will enter even the most victorious life.
The human spirit is never finished when it is defeated… it is finished when it surrenders.
Ben Stein American, Actor

Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit.
We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.
Wilma Rudolph American, Athlete

Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.
William Ellery Channing American, Writer
 

Words alone cannot fully convey the realities of the soul or the greatness of the human spirit.
William Shirley British, Politician

Neil Bhatia, the son of Bhatia the leading Builder of Delhi was in Shimla on a working holiday.  He was staying at Hotel Oberoi Cecil.  There was a builder’s convention in the hotel.  After attending a few talks and workshops, Neil decided to take a walk down the Mall.  His timing coincided with Rose and they met halfway.  Neil was classically handsome with killer looks and blue eyed fair Rose looked ravishing in an aquamarine dress.  It was love at first sight.  Smiles and nods soon changed to handshakes and embraces leading to an engagement.  Bhatias and D’Costas were both broadminded and had full faith in their children.  Soon a marriage was solemnized in a church and in Hindu tradition and Rose moved back to Delhi.   After all the festivities and honeymoon excitement was over, Rose began an avante garde Nursery school with the latest teaching techniques.  Her family school catered to children of foreign ambassadors and the wealthy.  Hence she was familiar with the latest innovations and utilized them in her school as money was no object.  With in laws’ blessings, she also set aside eleven scholarships for those deserving children who could not pay the steep school fees.
Her staff was hand picked and as committed to quality teaching as her.  Hence when Rose was pregnant, she could stay home without any worries.  Jay Bhatia was born one stormy day and looked like the elements were rejoicing with her two families. 

 
****    ****  ****   ****
 
O Virgin Mary!! I, Rose D’Costa Bhatia wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the miraculous recovery of my love Neil.  As promised I have come on this pilgrimage to your beautiful St. Michael’s Church in Mahim, Mumbai.   I am fulfilling my vow and completing my Novena by attending mass on nine consecutive Wednesdays with my son Jay. Thank you Mother.

Rose D’Costa was an incredibly lovely Anglo- Indian of 23 years.  She wished to get away from her family run convent school and strike out on her own.  She applied and got a teaching post at the famous Bishop Cotton School in Shimla.   She was very happy and often during free time explored the town and its environs.  Once she found herself outside the Kali Bari Temple.  She was hesitating to enter when she saw the priest emerge from within.  Priest Durgesh saw her interest and showed her the temple complex giving a running commentary about its history.  They became friends.

 
****    ****    ****
 
Today, I cannot contain my joy.  My innermost desire to become the head priest of our Goddess Durga’s shrine has become a reality.  Father is unwell and needs to rest.  Mother Durga has always been kind to our family and continues to bestow HER benevolence.  Our Kali Bari temple is graced with the presence of Goddess Shymala (Shimla).  I simply love morning arti best and chanting Durga mantras constantly. 
 
Durgesh’s college friend was getting married in Delhi and he decided to shop for the wedding gift there itself. Knowing his best friend’s likes, it did not take him long and as he was hailing a taxi, a car suddenly burst out of the parking lot and hit him.  The accelerator had been  erroneously pressed by the child driver in mischief and Durgesh was injured badly.  Meantime, the car’s chauffeur managed to grab the steering from the child’s hands and halt the car. But it was too late and Durgesh was grievously injured.

****   ****    ****
 
Yes, I think I can finally negotiate and deliver the property vacant to dad for our next big project.  Dad will be delighted and relieved. The squatter has finally agreed to meet and surely we can come to an amicable settlement.  I can feel it in my bones.  Then I can celebrate with my bundle of joy Jay and Rosie who have both been very patient with my short temper lately.  I feel awful about my behavior and after today will make it up for it to them..  In fact I will surprise them with tickets to Disney World In Florida USA.  They will be delighted. 

The Bhatias had purchased a large property on the outskirts of Delhi and Neil had to go there to negotiate with the last squatter.  Waving goodbye to Rose and son Jay, Neil rushed out.  As he was driving on the highway, a truck with failed brakes suddenly jumped the median and crashed into his car.   The steering embedded in his chest and he lost consciousness.  The accountant who was seated next to Neil was shaken but uninjured and immediately alerted everyone.  An ambulance was on its way. 

 
Neil required a heart transplant.  Durgesh was brought in unconscious at the same time.  His injuries were grievous.  The police had found Rose Bhatia’s phone number along with Soham Kher in Durgesh’s  pocket.  Soham was out of reach but Rose was available and was coincidently in the hospital itself.  The police informed Rose about Pandit Durgesh’s accident.  Rose called the head priest in Shimla at once and advised him about her own plight as well.  Once the senior priest came to know that their son could not be saved, he gave permission to have his heart donated to Neil.  He felt, in this way a vital part of his son would be alive in Neil’s body.  The heart transplant was a success. 
 
***   ***   ***
 
Neil slowly regained his strength.  Only his nights were bizarre.  He found himself nightly in a Goddess Durga Shrine performing arti and chanting Durga stotram constantly.  Rose then told him about Pandit Durgesh and how she had become his friend.  Neil wanted to visit the temple and also meet Durgesh’s parents.  Rose decided to call them to Delhi instead. Upon arrival, they came to know that their son’s heart remembered Goddess Durga and hence Neil the staunch Krishna devotee was fluently reciting all Durga slokas without a single error.  He had never chanted them before.  His donated heart knew.
 
“Om Sarva mangala Maangalye   Shivey Sarvaartha Saadhikey    Sharanye Trayambikey Gauri     Naraayani Namostutey
 
Lord Krishna and Goddess Durga had collaborated.
 
Jay Bhatia now basked in the love of three sets of grand parents viz. Priest Shastri’s family, D’Costas and Bhatias.  He was lovingly cherished by all.

Lord Krishna : Indian deity, god

 Goddess Durga (wife of Shiva) is also called shakti, Goddess Shymala (power)

Shimla is a hill station in Himachal state in India

Mumbai is Bombay India

picture from internet

****   ****   ****

Beaming Steve and Stella were walking down the aisle after reciting their vows and Mahler’s fifth Symphony was playing in the background.  Amidst confetti and showers of blessings they left for their honeymoon.  The empty beer cans tied to their car bumper  were making a happy clanking sound in their wake.   The plane soon dropped them off at Phoenix Arizona airport.  They were planning to rent a car and drive down to Sedona where they had rented a lovely cottage for their honeymoon.  Time was flying and they were lost in their passionate world and the incredible environs made their honeymoon magical.  One night as they were busy making umpteenth plan for their future, suddenly the cottage started shaking and was filled with a strange blue green light.  They rushed out and an incredible sight met their popping eyes.  A flying saucer had landed on their front lawn. Gliding out of the door was a half human half robot extra terrestrial (ET).  They were speechless in awe and horror.  The ET halted in front of them and quickly transformed itself into a full human form.    In human tones he asked permission to come inside.  Then he said I am on a mission and both of you have been selected after careful elimination process.  Please tell me your dream and I will ensure that your dreams are realized in exchange for helping our great cause.  He said even though mankind was centuries behind their planet in evolution still they had a certain ingredient which was a missing link or a catalyst that would make them totally supreme and world rulers.  In exchange he would make possible Steve and Stella’s dream of owning a musical academy.  After much thought they agreed to go with the ET to their planet.  In heart of heart they believed that they had no choice.  Due to atmospheric changes. they were made to lie in two special chambers and whisked off to planet Plantar.
The two caskets bearing frozen Steve and Stella were placed in a special chamber where Plantar doctors and scientists were engaged in various calculations and experiments.  Finally all preparations were done.  They were only waiting for one last item before completing this breakthrough in their growth and supremacy. 

***   ***     ****

Polonius suddenly felt jolted out of his reverie.  He was under attack.  Tartans apparently had come to know about his mission and were hell bent on stopping him from reaching home.  He dodged them skillfully but still his pod tail was on fire.  He was almost home and had alerted his fellow Plantarians.  As both Tartans and Plantars could transform themselves into humans, they were constantly spying on each other on earth.  No one was any the wiser if their friend or neighbor was an ET or a human such was their prowess in blending and assimilating.  Hence Polonius was under attack.  He had to get home by hook or crook.  On full throttle he finally enters the pod enclosure as his engine bursts into flames.  Quickly the fire is put out and the precious cargo is downloaded carefully.

***   ****   ****

Plantarian Voltar was the senior most and was getting impatient.  The enemy tartans were only a step behind and it was crucial that they succeed.  It was a matter of survival.  The forum of ten senior most Plantarians gathered in the special chamber.  The medico Valerian was ready for the final step. 

***   ***   *** 

The chamber was elliptical in shape.  In the center the caskets bearing Steve and Stella were attached to the wires emanating from the embedded form of Jesus Christ that was carved in the chamber wall.  The heart of the sculpture was hollow.   Polonius had brought a fresh heart from earth and this was quickly placed in the hollow chest cavity of JC’s sculpture.  

The heart belonged to a saintly Jesuit priest from jerusalem  who was known for charity work. Polonius had skillfully extracted it before the priest breathed his last and had secured it in the special container he had brought with him.  

The wires sent weak currents pulsating towards the heart which in turn was connected to the two caskets.   Gradually medico Valerian increased the strength of the electrical impulses.  The chamber reverberated with Mahler’s fifth symphony.   Then Mendelssohn wedding march alternated.  The music was exhilarating.  Other than the music there was no other sound.  All eyes were on the pulsating red heart!!  Lub a dub lub a dub…  Suddenly it started glowing and rays of light started circling the two caskets.  The thaw had begun.  After a good half hour, a miracle occurred.  Materializing in the center space between the two caskets was a perfect form of a newborn human child.  He was perfect from head to toe.  He was a male child.  Slowly as the music reached crescendo, the baby started growing in form and slowly became a young man.  His beauty was mesmerizing.  His eyes were closed and his arms were akimbo.   There was a thunderous applause.  The experiment was a success.  The newborn (adult) was whisked off to the adjacent chamber.  He would father the superior race that would be invincible in the galactic arena.  Or for that matter everywhere on heaven and earth.  JC’s heart had stopped glowing.  Steve and Stella were carefully repacked in their caskets and whisked back to their honeymoon cottage safe and sound and fast asleep. 

****  ****   ****

It was a beautiful morning and both Stella and Steve were feeling extra perky and alive.  It was the last day of their honeymoon.  They looked at one another and even though they tried to recall the something that was niggling their brains, they came up with nothing.  However, under the salt and pepper caddy on the dining table was a mega million lottery ticket.  The night before the results had been declared.  Out of curiosity they decided to check the numbers.  They had won   252 million dollars.  Theirs was the winning ticket.
They forgot everything else in this wave of pure joy.

*********************

Louis St. Croix was the son the head chef of the Bradbury family.  He was very amiable in nature and was much loved by the staff.  Robert on the other hand barely acknowledged his existence and merely tolerated the menials who came in his line of vision.

***********************

One day, Louis was visiting the kitchen with a message from his mom, when he heard piteous squeals coming from the backyard.  He went outside and the sight that met his eyes horrified him.  Brownie the family dog had been gnawing at the tennis ball which had fallen near him when Robbie had hit a wild volley.  The tennis courts were adjacent to the kitchen.  Robbie saw the ball being eaten by Brownie and got infuriated and started bashing the hapless dog’s head with his metal tennis racquet.  The more the dog cried, the harder he hit.  Finally the dog died beaten into a bloody pulp.  Everyone in the kitchen were disgusted but no one had the guts to say anything.  The only person who saw the gentle side of Robbie was his mom and no one had the heart to tell her about Robbie’s reality.

*********************

Iraq war was raging and recruitments were on.   Per family tradition, Robbie too was sent to do his bit for the country.  Robbie was delighted as he feared nothing.  He excelled at all  rigorous training the army put him through.  He was enlisted as a captain in the army.  He had earned this rank.
Louis too was in the boot camp and finished  his training head of the class.  He showed leadership qualities from day one and he too was elevated to the rank of a captain.

***********************************

To inculcate sporting spirit and a robust fighting one as well, two groups were formed amongst the new recruits and both rival groups were headed by Robbie and Louis.  Robert looked down his patrician nose at Louis and dismissed him.  He felt his group would win hands down.

He was a strict commander and drove his group and himself hard so that they had an edge over Louis’s lot.  Both teams were head to head and now the last test remained.  This was the most dreaded one yet.  It was the gas chamber.  Each recruit was sent into the gas chamber with his mouth covered to get a first hand experience of what it felt like when criminals were meted out capital punishment…… It was a part of the boot camp training.

One from each group was sent alternately and the scores were chalked up.  Fifty percent of both the groups passed out.  A quarter of the rest puked and gagged and had watery eyes.  Some were gasping for breath.

Finally Louis and Robert remained.  Louis went in first.  He had covered his mouth and nose carefully and held his breath and prayed hard whilst he went through the stipulated time.  Then came out gasping.  His group was done.  Now it was Robbie’s turn.  Robbie too covered his face carefully and went in.  He was doing fine, when suddenly a dog’s shadow appeared from nowhere and  grabbed the mask covering Robert’s face and disappeared.  Robbie choked, gasped  flailing his hands and then lay still, stone dead.   Onlookers were aghast as their mouth’s fell open in amazement and disbelief!

*******************

ps: at the eye doc. yesterday- sitting across from me was this young girl who was text msg and spkg alt. to her boyfriend and I heard that he was in the gas chamber.  I was shocked and asked her about it.  Then she mentioned he was in boot camp and all recruits were sent to the gas chamber as part of their training.
The word gas chamber stuck in my head and I recalled a wonderful movie we’d seen called Hangman by Adoor gopalkrishanan with the lush Kerala backdrop and of course Sean penn’s Dead man walking…

The media was going crazy trying to get a glimpse of the Spanish Royal family and a chance for an interview with the grieving family members.  Everyone was stoic and tight-lipped.  Donna Isabella was brain dead. She had fallen down the marble staircase of her duplex penthouse in Manhattan and was on life support.  Per her living will, her shell shocked husband had asked the doctors to switch off her life support machine – but this news had been leaked out and now there a huge uproar from her devout  family members and the catholic clergy as Euthanasia was illegal in Spain.

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Princess Donna Isabella had led a sheltered life and was always chaperoned by her beloved duena Tita Lozano who loved her like her own child.  She was the favorite of her Papa as she was the only daughter with two brothers.  She had blossomed into a beautiful young woman and had persuaded her papa to permit her to attend the wedding of her best friend Donna Maria to her elder brother Carlos’s best friend Paulo.  Carlos and she were in Rome for the wedding.  This was the first time she was away from the family and relished every moment.  It was a perfect morning and she had risen early and had quietly sneaked out on her own to visit the famous Fountain of Trevi.  Her friend and chauffeur whisked her away and she found herself standing in front of the fountain.  She opened her scarf and let her auburn tresses fly in the wind.  She laughed in sheer joy.  She looked picture perfect.  Diametrically opposite her stood Patrick Murphy who was there on a short Roman Holiday after a grueling work week.  He too was enjoying the view of Trevi when the sound of joyous laughter came as a pleasant wave and caressed his ears.

He lifted his head with a rich mane of blond hair and stared into a pair of dark limpid eyes.  He was enchanted.  Then as Isabella blushed and turned away to take some shots with her camera, he too did likewise.  But as luck would have it, they were so engrossed in capturing Trevi from all angles that they bumped into one another unawares!!  Patrick caught her in his arms or else she’d have toppled and fallen.  He was mesmerized by the pair of dark mischief laden eyes full of  laughter.  A dimple appeared on her left cheek and captivated him completely.  He was lost.    For her it was an adventure and her almost twenty year old heart was beating fast in excitement.

She was giddy headed and reckless and agreed when he asked her for coffee and a snack.  They made their way to an open air café and ordered coffee and croissants.  Both spoke at once asking questions and then he said you first.  Bella merely said she was a college student in town for her friend’s wedding.  Patrick said he was an architect and was working for the firm who had won the contract to rebuild New York world trade center.  He also mentioned that he had been offered a junior partnership in his firm as the senior partners were very pleased with his avant garde and futuristic design sense.  He would be their bridge between old world and the new mod design concepts.  Cupid had really struck and even though they’d just met, they both felt as though they knew one another from ages and time flew.  Soon they realized it was lunchtime and Isabella had to rush back for a formal luncheon with her friend.  Promising to call as soon as she was able to meet, she vanished from his sight.

to be contd….

Patrick Murphy felt himself drowning!! This was the first time he felt like that after his school days crush for science teacher with the sexy voice and drop dead gorgeous looks!!  He was in body changing phase and as his awareness grew, so did his puppy love for his teacher.  But that crush died rather quickly as he saw his teacher in a clinch with the  Physical Ed lady teacher and that fizzled his ardor like to a wet blanket on raging fire.

Isabella sped to her room to freshen up and hastened to the luncheon her friend’s family had thrown.  Her face was pink with all the morning excitement and she was dying to confide to her bro Carlos as they were very close to each other.  Finally she caught him on the terrace and told him about her invite and meeting with Patrick.  He cautioned her but upon seeing her happy face he agreed to come along and checkout Patrick.  Then Bella called and made rendezvous with the three of them for brunch on the piazza.

Carlos and Patrick hit off at the outset as both were avid soccer fans and traded notes et al.  Patrick had developed his love for soccer whilst in Europe for a couple of years studying architecture.  Carlos got good vibes from Patrick and gave his blessings to both Bella and Patrick.  Then he cautioned Patrick about their blueblood and warned him about possible bottlenecks where their alliance was concerned from the family and left them alone.  Time flew for both Bella and Patrick and it was time to leave.  Reluctantly they parted after exchanging phones and email info. etc.   Patrick informed Bella that he may actually make a work related trip to Madrid to get design inspiration from the magnificent edifices.  She was elated and promised to keep in touch in the interim and bid adieu.

Patrick and Carlos and Bella kept in constant touch and through them Patrick came to know the likes and dislikes of their parents and the other sibling Roberto.  He searched and found a rare coin to add to the royal dad’s collection.  Bella’s mom was fond of intricate filigreed hand held fans.  Patrick had picked up a rare fan on one of his trips to China and reluctantly decided to part with it as well.  He felt it was small price to pay for his Bella.  For Roberto and Carlos he decided to get autographed soccer balls.  Here he had a lucky break as David Beckham upon moving to California had short listed a few architectural firms and Patrick’s firm was one of them.  So, it was easy for him to request  autographed soccer balls. For his Bella, Patrick got his jewelry designer friend to design a beautiful delicate bracelet in platinum and precious stones.  All gifts ready and wrapped he could relax now.

He could concentrate on his projects as he wanted to do well financially so that he could provide all that his loving heart wished for his Bella viz. a lifestyle she was used to or at least up to her level. Their love had raced full throttle.

Patrick called up Bella and asked to speak to her dad.  Bella informed that already Carlos and she had filled him in about Rome events.  Patrick asked formal permission to court Bella.  Dad gave in conditionally saying he’d like to meet him personally first and invited him for dinner.    The royal apartments with their rich history and décor made his heart sink but he loved Bella dearly and was determined to disarm her Patrician parents.  He had his gift bag ready and after a lavish dinner when they retired to the den, Patrick decided to give the gifts.  Diffidently he gave the coin and fan to the parents.  They were both delighted and disarmed as they realized the thought and care behind this gesture as their intrinsic value for them was meaningless.  Roberto and Carlos were delighted with the autographed soccer balls from David Beckham.  Finally he gave Bella the bracelet and she was charmed by its workmanship and beauty.  Last but not the least, Patrick had even brought a lovely antique cameo for Tita, Bella’s nanny who blushed and curtsied happily.
The wooing of the whole family en masse was a fait complit!!  Patrick was half way there
And his love boat was rock steady!!

to be contd…for concluding part