026 HIMANI

026 HIMANI

He was a multi-talented teacher who not only had in depth knowledge of literature but also of performing arts. He was preparing students for a musical drama in government inter collage Rikhinikhal – a remote village of Uttarakhand. Republic day was around the corner and many cultural programs used to be part of celebrations.

There was a king and a queen in the story. Two hawkers came to them. They were selling peanuts and bangles. King was not found of peanuts and queen was not of glass bangles. They asked hawkers to go. But hawkers with their heart-warming talks persuaded king and queen to buy their peanut and bangles at an extremely high price. King honoured them for their talent of convincing and asked them to come every month to sell in his capital.

This interesting incident was narrated by teacher in form of poetic dialogues and was enacted by students.

Sanju and Himani were the two best students of the class. They used to get very good marks. One used to be first and the other second in the class. Both of them were favourites of all teachers. They used to dress neatly as their parents were government employees, who were better off than the village people.

Teacher gave the role of king to Sanju and queen to Himani. Two other students were given the role of hawkers.

They practised skit for a week. Students acted as puppets on the lyrical voice of teacher. Whole act was impactful and was coming out beautifully. All students were sure that the act will win the first prize on the republic day.

Sanju, Himani and others were too young to have any romantic inclination. Some senior girl students came to see their practice. They were over enthusiastic on pairing of Sanju and Himani. They went and teased Himani after the practice.

The day before the final, Himani did not come for practice. Teacher called her and asked. She told about the senior girl’s bullying.

On the republic day, Sanju sold peanuts to the king who was played by a girl student. Teacher had given role of king to a girl student and Sanju was given role of peanut seller.

A few months after, Sanju’s father was transferred to another place and Sanju carried the memories of Himani to another school.

Thoughts of Himani came to Sanju’s mind when he was trying to forget everything else. He was trying to reconstruct her face as he didn’t remember her clearly. But all the faces coming to his mind were from later years and wasn’t matching his feelings.

My stream of thoughts was broken by the shrill voice “They got me married to man out of his mind- again smiling in meditation”

“It was Himani” words came out from my mouth naturally as I was still in half meditation.

“Who is Himani papa” – asked my son loudly after applying a sharp break to his toy car.

I opened my eyes only to see a completely new version of my wife.

 

025 A breakfast worth million

025 A breakfast worth million

I was getting late for the meeting, came running for breakfast in IBIS Pune. I took idli vada and proceeded to take fruits. The guy before me took plateful of papaya and watermelon. I had to wait for next serve, I looked at him in anger, he was tall and exceptionally handsome. His tea shirt said - Tamil Thalaivas. After re-serve, I filled few fruits in my plate and went to an empty table.

Next to me, many members of the team were having breakfast. I went to them asked if I could take a photo. They happily obliged and I clicked two selfies.

While having breakfast, other thoughts were subdued by that of myself playing Kabaddi in childhood. I get chance to play cricket, badminton, swimming, running, gyming. But there is no place to play kabaddi in cities. Kabaddi doesn’t need a big field or special indoor facility. For some reason it wasn’t promoted and no one wants to play it. 

I was in thoughts and their had coach was looking to a table. I offered to sit in the empty seat of my table. I wanted to start a conversation but he looked too serious. 

I came out to board my cab, two people were standing. I was in hurry and was in two minds if to take the photo or go. But cab took sometime so I asked. 

“Can I take a photo”

       “We are not players"

“What?”

      “We are in management; but you can take if you want”

“I am also a manager; they also do lot of work- let us take a photo”

#kabaddiplayer

#kabbadi

#kabaddilover

#prokabaddi

#tamilthalaivas

#TamilThalaivas

#prokabaddi

#prokabaddileague

#pkl

024 Shri Sundarlal Bahuguna and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

 024 Shri Sundarlal Bahuguna and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

027 MY MISPLACED CHUCHLE 2

Without waiting for anyone else, I tried to listen to that voice again.

I learned the custom from my engineering classmates that it is important to have a suitable ambience for proper study. They called it “mahaul Banana” in Hindi. I went and bought an expensive yoga mat and some serene looking branded clothes on a Saturday. I then prepared my drawing room for an ambience suitable for meditation on a Sunday morning around 10. I sat on the mat cross legged in padmasana and closed my eyes.

My toddler son came and climbed on my shoulders and pulled my hair. I shouted and asked my wife to take him away to the kitchen. My shout already increased my blood pressure. After making myself calm again through alternate breathing, I closed my eyes. Pressure in the cooker increased to its fullest and the cooker's whistle did not increase my blood pressure but the hunger. I observed uninvited thoughts of daal and rice along with a few spoons of ghee on it. An apsara dressed in white traditional dress descended from the sky with the help of a parachute. She landed directly on our balcony. She came out of the parachute and adjusted her hair garland made of the white jasmine. She then walked passed through the drawing room with soft steps so as not to disturb me. She saw my wife busy with mobile and enchanted her with a magic stick. My wife could not see anything other than soap opera in mobile. She then glued my son to his toy cars. He could not notice anything else other than his toy cars. 

She then walked to the kitchen and plated the food. She kept rice on a porcelain plate and daal in a bowl. She then garnished it with finely cut ‘dhaniya’ leaves. She cut a salad of carrot, radish and cucumber. She decorated the plate with salad. She was finding it hard to open the slippery lid of the ghee's jar. She wiped the lid with kitchen cloth, opened it and then put two spoonfuls of ghee in the daal. She brought the plate to the dining table and waited for me to open my eyes. Smell of ghee and coriander leaves were mesmerising me and I felt the silence again. I was smiling with water in my mouth. 

Suddenly a shrill high-pitched voice hit my ears ”They got me married to a man out of his mind, he is smiling in meditation as well”. I opened my eyes to see my wife turning to my son and screaming. He was trying to break open his toy car to see all the inside components. 

We all ate on steel plates without any bowl. Dal was directly poured into the rice. Dhaniya leaves were mixed in dal and salad was separately cut in another plate. As advised by our dietician and several doctors, ghee was voluntarily avoided to manage weight. 

Glimpse of silence through food gave me hope and I thought of trying again next Sunday.

023 MY MISPLACED CHUCKLE

 023 My laugh at the wrong places.

023 MY MISPLACED CHUCKLE 

With folded legs we were sitting on the floor of  class 6, our Teacher on the chair, and the best student of the class was standing and was reading tables from the book and everyone was repeating after him - “dho ekam dho” meaning 2 1 ja 2, 2 2 ja 4.  Suddenly a peon came and said something to the teacher. Teacher stopped everyone. He said that someone has died and we need to keep a silence for 2 minutes as condolences.

Everyone stood up at his own place. the eardrum breaking sound of 2 2 ja 4 converted into a sudden silence.

I looked at the teacher and his eyes were closed. I looked left and then right, their eyes were closed.

I got scared. I too closed my eyes and stood in silence.

I heard the sound of air passing through my nostrils. Sound gave me comfort but tingling.  I smiled. Tingling increased.

I chuckled.

I tried to stop myself from a loud laugh but the silence didn’t allow me. 

Tingling increased as was the fear of the teacher.

Armies of two innate instincts- fear and laugh were fighting against each other inside me. 

I started trembling.  

A small laugh came out of me. 

Few of them proved the proverb right “a friend in need is a friend indeed” as some of them joined me in chuckling.

The teacher also had a chuckle but he quickly maintained his composure. Almost everyone was involved but I was the only one to be punished. “Hey! you stupid fellow!, move out of my class and go become a ‘mugra’ at the door”- said the teacher. 

All my true friends laughed at me when I took the ‘murga’ position.

Ladies and gentleman, it didn’t stop in class 6.

The second prominent time it happened was when I got married. Right after my wedding my mother was busy seeing off guests and giving them return gifts. She was trying her best to ensure that no one gets the return gift of more value than that of the gift they have given. Many guest families wanted to leave together. Mother ran upstairs to get gifts for another family who wanted to leave right after one. She was so happy, excited and confused at the same time that she got an attack of asphyxia. She fell on the floor and was breathing with great discomfort. I had seen this happening to her before. I didn’t chuckle, I laughed out loud at my mom. My wife gave me a strange look and said - “They got me married to a man out of his mind”. Yes, she cried - “O ija …”

Friend, it did not stop at my mother, a few years later, my wife fell down in front of the bathroom. I laughed at her. She gave the look and said - “They got me married to a man out of his mind”. She wanted to hit my head with the rolling pin, as she usually does. But it was my good luck that she got a big white plaster in her right hand. After a few days, I was terrified when I saw her drawing a smiley and a rolling pin with her left hand on the paster. 

Cure for misplaced chuckles was not an option but a survival priority for me. After listening to my interesting story and realising the threat on my life, my bartender friend got me enrolled in a meditation workshop.

My wife opposed, cried and said - “They got me married to a man out of his mind”. But I went.

For the first two days, I again listened to the tingling sound of my breadth, chuckled, and disturbed others.

The third day, I stopped hearing everything. It was the silence again and I did not chuckle but cried, cried and cried.

The fourth day, I neither chuckled nor cried. Silence allowed me to hear some other voice from within. 

What was that voice? 

Go! find out!

022: DRUGGY WHO STOLE WATER TAPS: HOSTEL FILES

 022: DrugGy who stole water taps: HOSTEL files

Coming back from the class, Sanju threw his notebooks in the bed of his C-Block hostel room. He was hungry and to avoid rush, he was going toward mess in a hurry. A boy came running, pushed Sanju and ran toward main gate. Sanju fell on floor backwards. His wrist, back and head were paining, he closed his eyes tried to get up but couldn’t. He opened his eyes and saw Vicky running toward him. With lot of effort Sanju tried to give his right hand thinking Vicky will pull him up. But Vicky ran toward main gate without even looking at Sanju, shouting “Chor Chor, Pakdo Pakdo”. After him, Ronny ran faster and shouted louder than Vicky “Chor, Chor, Pakdo, Pakdo”. Sanju abused Vicky and Ronny even louder and got up himself.

Sanju heard loud noise from main gate. They caught him after a good run.

Hostel was built like a fort. From main gate, a gallery was coming to inside lawn of hostel which had a badminton court. 4 story building was around the lawn like a square.  Gallery was passing through the lawn and was going towards mess. There were only two exits - main gate and small gate from mess. Stair cases from these two gates were going to all floors.

Vicky, Ronny and few others brought that boy to badminton court. Boy had wrench in hand and had come to steal water tabs from bathrooms. Some tabs were stolen a day ago from D Block. Boy came to C block this time and Vicky caught him red handed.

Vicky snatched wrench from boy’s hand, left him on mercy of crowd and then it was free for all. Almost everyone came to hostel due to lunch break, some watched from balcony of their floors and some came down.

Vicky came back to Sanju, Sanju punched him on stomach in a friendly manner for not lifting him up then. Vicky told Sanju to wash his sins in the flowing Ganges in badminton court.

Sanju went down.

He saw that 4-5 hostellers were trying to tie boy’s hands with a rope. Boy was resisting with full of his strength and was more powerful than 4-5 together. He seemed to be fighting for his life as many others were kicking and punching him from all the directions.

His shirt and vest were torn and thrown away. Sanju came closure to avenge and noticed boy’s hands had many marks of injections. He was surely a drug addict. Drugs were not used to be part of hostel culture back then. Sanju had never seen a drug addict before. Boy was pulled into another corner before Sanju could hit him.

Even the most gentle and studious students were going and were trying their hands on him. Boys who never spoke loudly were seen shouting at him. Some tried to save him from mob fury. They were pleading with others to leave him alive. They asked others to have mercy and understand that boy is also a human. No one listened to them.

One hosteller came with a wooden rod to hit the boy. But right before he could hit, a senior snatched rod from his hands. Senior used rod to save the boy from mob. He hit some of the hostellers who were prominent in beating that boy. He then told everyone in very loud authoritative voice: “He also seems to be student. He is stealing because he is a drug addict. We shall not kill him but take to rehabilitation center.”

Along with few other mature seniors, he took the boy to the warden.

021 WILL YOU LEAVE SOMEONE TO DIE ON THE ROAD? TRUE FLASH STORY

021 WILL YOU LEAVE SOMEONE TO DIE ON THE ROAD?

021 PUBLIC APATHY DURING ROAD ACCIDENTS

One of Sanju's colleague in Nokia Bangalore invited Sanju to attend her wedding in Udupi Karnataka.

In his 30s, Sanju was recently divorced. he went on a solo trip.

He drove his car Hyundai Santro from Bangalore to Karwar. He stayed in Karwar Navy quarters in his college friend’s place whose family was not there temporarily. They were meeting after 10 years; They had great time talking about many incidents of college while visiting the nearby beaches. In evenings they used to have black dog whiskey and then boast about luck with career and badluck in romantic lives.

After 4 days Sanju bid good bye to his friend and moved on toward Udupi in western Ghats. Scenic road were turning just like snakes famous in that land. Being afternoon, there wasn’t much traffic in road which was 2 lanes without a divider. Sanju was putting his driving skills to test and was in car race with himself. Loud western songs were keeping Sanju’s mind away from thoughts of past. He was driving way faster than the  recommended speed.

Suddenly on a uphill sharp turn, he had to apply sudden brakes. On the same side, a white Indica taxi was slowed down instantly. On the other side, he saw a car was standing with its bonnet completely crashed. 2 middle aged men were helping 3 women to come out from backside door of the car.  2 mid aged women were slightly injured but one about 10 old girl child was unconscious and bleeding from forehead.

All of them pleaded with folded hands to white Indica taxi driver to take them to hospital. Even though taxi was empty, he drove away.

They turned to Sanju.

He didn’t get time to think, he got down and asked them put the girl child on back seat of his car.  Older lady also sat on the back seat and had girl’s head on her lap. 2^nd lady sat on the front seat and Sanju drove further.

He didn’t know the nearest hospital. He tried to read road signs boards - names of cities further south and their distance was written in large white fonts in green board. Without knowing where to go and he kept driving forward slowly. He saw a motorcycle coming, he waived him and shouted “Hospital! Hospital!”.

Motorcycle man saw the blood in the backseat of car and condition of girl. He didn’t ask a question and said "follow me".

Motorcycle man turned and after 5-6 kilo meters they reached a small hospital.

Without asking any questions, medical staff admitted the girl and started first aid in emergency room.

Both the ladies waiting outside in gallery of hospital was still shocked and were crying. Sanju asked them to call other male members and give address. Their mobile was left in the crashed car. She remembered the mobile number of male member and Sanju called him. She then asked Sanju’s mobile to make a call to inform about accident in their hometown. They were from Bangalore and were on a road trip for pilgrimage. Male members arrived after 15 minutes. They said that they had head on collision with a truck. Sanju asked where was the truck. They said truck overturned after the collision and went into the gorges. And the truck driver? He and his helper miraculously survived and were being admitted with minor injuries to the same hospital.

Family thanked Sanju and doctor said “You can go, Sir”.

Sanju arrived Udupi late night and checked in the same hotel where some of his other colleagues staying. He asked hotel staff to clean back seat of his car which was full of vomit and blood.

For a few months, he had a feeling of fear and after thoughts. He was not sure if he was right or wrong.  

What do you think is the right thing to do in such a situation?

For more such true stoies:

BORN IN 70'S: BEDTIME FLASH STORIES by Sanjeev Manral

https://amzn.eu/d/54nidlN

020: BLOOD DONATION & DOG'S BISCUITS: TRUE FLASH STORY

In a winter morning, Vicky kicked the door of Sanju’s hostel room. Sanju abused him for waking him up so early on Sunday. Vicky said that their engineering professor CKS sir have immediately requested few volunteers for blood donation to one of his relative. Both of them ran and waked up few other students. With some persuasion and emotional blackmail, they also got Ronny ready, who could not say ‘no’ and was afraid of blood and needles.

In a matter of few minutes, 7-8 students assembled in front of their A Block hostel. With CKS sir in front seat, A white TATA Sumo came and except Ronny everyone got in the back cabin. Without anyone even noticing, Ronny ran back to his hostel room as fast he could.   

In an hour they reached other side of Lucknow where PGI hospital was located. CKS sir first asked condition of his relative. He then took everyone to blood donation room.

It was a clean large room with see through glass separation walls and doors. On 1^st corner there was a reception where donors details were being filled in a register.  2^nd corner had few beds, 3^rd corner had 4 chair-cum-bed for blood donation and 4^th corner had sofa and coffee tables. In the Middle there was an beautiful marble statue.

Sanju, Vicky and others registered themselves at reception and then proceeded toward donation chairs. Sanju and Vicky together got the chairs next to each other. After blood packet was full, they were asked to shift slowly to Sofa. They were served tea and biscuits by attendants in white dress.

Sanju asked Vicky to take some biscuits along with tea. Vicky was very choosy in eating and said that those seems to dog’s biscuits and he doesn’t eat such low-quality biscuits. He didn’t like the taste of tea as well and left it as it is. On the other hand, Sanju ate all the biscuits but one. His mother had taught him in childhood that in other’s home, one shall not eat all the biscuits and leave some in the plate. He finished snacks very fast and was in a hurry to go as usual. Within few minutes he stood up told Vicky “Let us go”.

Vicky stood up and both of them walked towards exit door.

Vicky told Sanju that he wasn’t feeling well and Sanju needed to take care of him. Sanju confidently held him with both hands- right one from back and left one from chest. They walked till door. Sanju opened the door with left hand and nudged Vicky to move first. Vicky fell on his face to floor.

Attendants and nurses ran toward them, they lifted Vicky directly to a bed in 2^nd corner. Right after that one doctor asked Sanju also to lie down in the bed next to Vicky. They were given fruit juices. They were in bed for half an hour and then after checking their blood pressure nurses asked them to go. Right after crossing the glass door, they had a laugh of their life. Way back to hostel in TATA Sumo, Vicky took a nap and Sanju kept laughing.

019 CHILDHOOD WITHOUT MAGGI: TRUE FLASH STORY

In the mid 1980s, maternal grandma came to visit them for a few weeks in Jaiharikhal of Uttarakhand.  At that time, their food was limited to dal, roti, chawal, puri, kheer, paratha and various types of pahadi cuisines - mutton, churkani, dhubke, jholi etcetera. Restaurants and roadside eateries were not common in that era. They ate outside only when they used to travel for pilgrimage or to their ancestral village. Inline with traditions and customs, their father always preferred pure vegetarian satvik dhaba.

Their father got a new black and white TV for them that had only one channel ‘Doordarshan’ and more than Maggi its advertisements were becoming popular. Commercial had a group of children playing and singing. Once they were exhausted, they asked for quick food from their mother, who cooked Maggi in 2 minutes. It had a nice jingle-

“Khel kud ke aaye hum, bade gajab ki bhook lagi.
2 minute rook sakte hain, sar ke bal chad sakte hain.
Maggi chahiye mujhe abhi”

Learned by TV ad, kids in home enacted the entire act of playing, singing and asking for food. Whenever they asked for food - mother cooked Suji or Pakoras which took a minimum of half an hour. Instant food after play were biscuits or morning’s parathas which they didn’t like at all.

Even though their place was deep inside himalayas, they had never tasted noodles. Inspired by commercials, kids demanded instant food in 2 minutes and they insisted on Maggi.

Father brought few packet of Maggi. Mother read and cooked it exactly as per instructions. All of them witnessed the cooking in the kitchen. Mother transferred it to 6 bowls, which she kept in the tray. She took the tray to the living room where Naani and father were talking. She was followed by Pappu, Sanju and Bholu who had water in their mouths. Kids were excited and their mother was beaming as they were about to eat their first foreign meal.

She being the guest, mother served Naani first and then distributed it to all of them.

Naani looked at small threads like noodles floating in the soup and said- “Chhee, yeh ke chhi kitad jas”  meaning “Yak, what are these worms?”

She was so disgusted that she almost vomited. This had a ripple effect and every one had a very bad feeling of vomit.

All bowels were emptied in the dustbin. Kids developed such a distaste that they never asked for it again, it was never cooked at their home again. 

Sanju was so averse that he didn’t eat it even outside. 

After several years, his engineering friends persuaded him to try noodles once but he always refused. He had a great fear and aversion inside. Finally, one of his engineering friends succeeded as he ate his first noodles as chow mein in Aliganj Lucknow in a roadside eatery.

And, Maggi was brought back home by the next generation in 21st century.

018 MONETARY BENEFTIS EXPECTED THIS WEEK: BEDTIME FLASH STORY

Kids were raised in a way that when their father retires they need to have a career of their own. Studying to get a plum job was their main worry, everything else was secondary.

They learned english from class 6 only as a subject. Every other subject was being taught in Hindi. When they moved to a small hill town Gopeshwar they started reading Hindi newspapers which used to reach there in the evening because of the distance from Dehradun. 

Someone told Sanju that English is important for a career. So he asked for an English newspaper instead of Hindi. After some arguments in home they started getting an English newspaper. Mother didn’t know English and as a result she no longer enjoyed the newspapers. She neither learned English nor insisted on getting Hindi newspapers along with English.

The English newspaper was vibrant with many articles and advertisements. Weekly column of horoscopes caught the eyes of Sanju, which had a different way of assigning zodiac signs. They were based on the range of birthdays instead of calculated from birth place, date and time. Sanju didn’t know his calculated zodiac sign as his horoscope was kept in the clothes box of Tin by Mother. He easily figured out his sun sign in the English newspaper and started reading the weekly forecast of events in the horoscope column.

For a few months, everything seemed to be accurate and was going as per the weekly forecast.

On the forecast of money gain, he was asking and getting pocket money from mother. On knowledge gain, he was paying attention and was able to understand all concepts clearly in the classroom. On the probability of an accident, he was fighting with friends in school and getting lightly injured. 

Predictions were proving to be true as observed by Sanju.

This continued for almost a year. Sanju stopped worrying about the future as he relied on the weekly horoscope column. 

In the week of school results, Sanju had no worries. He used to come first in the class and he was confident that he would come first again. He read the weekly horoscope which predicted good news for his sign. 

He walked to school and got the report card.

He was shattered by looking at the report card. He barely managed to pass all subjects and was not in the top 10 students in the class. 

Sanju was gloomy while others beamed with happiness.

On top of his sadness, Sanju got scolded at home from all family members one by one. 

Sanju cursed English newspapers.

His father told him that he was coming first in a small place because other students were kids of less educated people with limited means. Since they have moved to district headquarters from a small place, he was then among kids of highly educated and well to do people. All of them were very smart and studied very hard with guidance from their parents.

This was his first lesson on competition. 

He kept meeting the moment several times, whenever he moved to a new place, sport or work. But he never looked at the horoscope again.

017 NCC CAMP: BEDTIME FLASH STORY

Many students in remote areas had a feeling that they were caged in a bowl made of mountains. They used to hear stories of the city from some migrant students whose parents were there for government jobs. They used to think that they were missing the liveliness of the city - big buildings, shops, trains, fancy cars and multi cuisine food.

All NCC cadets in school were excited when they heard that they are going to Dehradun for a 10 days camp. It was no less than a dream coming true for them.

Instructor told them what and all to pack. Everyone was supposed to take their own bedding. Sanju packed carpet, mattress, quilt, bedsheet, blanket, steel glass and plate.

A bus was booked by the school. All the students along with the NCC teacher sat on the bus in the morning at 6 and reached the destination in the evening at 6.

Kids made their beds in tents and started living in tents. For the next 10 days, they were to get military training. Their usual day was: get up early in the morning for physical training, breakfast, drill exercise, lunch, after noon training on survival skills such as map and compass, evening assembly for cultural programs like singing, dinner and go to bed.

But a few days were reserved for full day activity on special topics such as shooting, tracking or city visit. The 7th day was reserved for tracking, when all cadets went for a visit to a nearby place. They started right after breakfast and reached there in an hour. In the destination point there was a small tea shop. All cadets made a crowd to buy biscuits and tea. All were eating food made by military cooks for the last 7 days. Even though food was of good quality, they were homesick and were longing for home food. Sanju looked at cupcakes in a glass jar of the tea shop. His mouth filled with saliva; he too entered the crowd in order to buy.

The Shopkeeper was first taking money from cadets and then giving them items along with the change. There was only one shopkeeper and many buyers. Cadets were pushing each other in order to buy things faster. Sanju with great effort pushed other and reached the front. He asked the shopkeeper to give him 2 cupcakes. Shopkeeper took money from him and gave back the change first and then he gave cupcakes. Sanju first kept the change in pocket and then took cupcakes in both of his hands. He then turned back to walk to his friends. One well-built guy suddenly shouted and took cupcakes from Sanju's hands and ran away like wind. Sanju could not understand what happened. He just saw himself empty handed and no sign of boy who took his cupcakes. He didn't even see his face to recognize him. Sanju asked the shopkeeper to give him other cupcakes, but he asked for more money which Sanju didn't have.

Frustrated, Sanju walked back without cupcakes but with a lesson on being extra careful in the crowd.

#homefood

#hostel food

#kids

#crowd

#getting robbed

#cheat

#Homesickness 

#cities

#safety

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016 Fire Shooting training

016 the target: Bedtime flash story

Excited by firearms and travel, Sanju joined National Cadet Core in 8th class. 

While getting ready for the first class of NCC, he dressed himself in NCC uniform and looked at him in mirror with pride. It was similar to Army’s khaki pant and shirt, cap and black leather shoes. 

First day was just some briefing and second day onwards it was a military parade drill. 5 days a month they had NCC classes and same drill continued for many months.

One day instructors came with rifles and told cadets about rifle. They first explained rifle’s various components and their significance. Then they explained aiming – 

In prone position, hold the rifles steady.   

keep the eye, target and bead in the crook of rifles in one line. 

pull the trigger without movement in any part of rifle or body.

 

After ensuring each cadet understood the fundamentals, they gave rifles without bullets to each cadet to practice for some time. Before dispersing they asked everyone to come early next day.

Next day instructors came with all firing gear – boxes of bullets, carpets, bags and rifles. Gear was distributed among cadets to carry and they started walk towards firing range in hill. Out of excitement Sanju picked up rifle. Rifle’s weight was too much for Sanju’s age. With great effort he was barely able balance himself and walk. Initial route was an uphill which added to Sanju’s difficulty - his knee pained and he was thinking of giving rifles to someone else walk without any load. Instructor saw his gait and said “why don’t you exchange with a light weight article” but Sanju’s pride did not allow him, he replied “Sir I am fine and can carry it slowly.” They reached the top of the hill and then down journey on other side of hill started. Sanju thought he would run very fast, as he used to do when walking downwards. But with rifle weight he wasn’t able to balance and he walked downward slope more slowly.

After a walk of an hour, they reached firing range away from population. They cleaned the place, filled bags with leaves from trees and then put the carpet parallelly. They put bag in front of carpets to make support for rifles. They then walked to other side and put targets. In the tree nearby there was a bird’s nest which had eggs. Instructor asked them put targets away from tree to avoid any harm to eggs.

They were instructed to fall in line and then final instruction were given. Instructors opened the ammunition box lick and then magazines were loaded into the rifles.

Sanju’s turn was in first round.

Sanju was quite confident of hitting all 10 bullets to target within a radius of 1 inch. Lowest circle was supposed to win. Sanju took prone position and with left hand resting on bag he held the rifles steadily. With right shoulder supporting the butt of rifle, he loaded the bullet. He then tried to aim by closing one eye and aligning target mid-point and bead in the crook. He has aimed perfectly as waited for fire instruction from instructor.

Instructor loudly said “fire” – others fired causing a loud shooting sound

Sanju’s eyes blinked and rifle started swinging. He knew his aim is gone. He tried to aim again but could not close only one eye. He tried again but both eyes closed simultaneously as he panicked.

Instructor shouted at him- “Sanju fire!”

With closed eyes, Sanju pulled the trigger of trembling rifle.

He thought he has hit the eggs in nest.

Before he could think further “load and fire” shout of instructor hit his ears.

He loaded the rifle again…

Without much variation, he just repeated actions of first round for all 10 rounds.

After completion, they first put the rifle on the sides, collected the cover of bullets and then ran to see their result in targets.

Sanju was devasted to see none of the bullets hit the targets. He then went to see the nest. 

He took solace from the fact that eggs were unharmed in the nest.

Over the years, Sanju learned firing and after many years he hits 10 out of 10 in an inch radius.

#skill development

015 faster than super computer: True story from our childhood

Have you ever told a bedtime story to your children?

When was it?

015 faster than super computer: Bedtime flash story 

Winter vacations just started. They used to go to ancestral village in winter vacations but this year father had some office work so father decided that they would go to ancestral village after 2 weeks.

Since school stopped and there were no other kids around. Kids were feeling bore in home. They asked father to get additional magazines from city. Father used to get Nandan, Champak and few comic books every month from city. This time he got additional comic books of ‘Amar Chitra Katha’, ‘Pinki’, ‘Billoo’ and ‘Chacha Chaudhary’.

Bholu who didn’t know how to read, so he just browsed the comic books and hid them in the kitchen. Pappu and Sanju used to have a competition on reading the books first so they searched for the comic books fervently. They did not suspect Bholu and fought accusing each other of hiding the books. Bholu enjoyed their fight as they hit each other with school books and pillows.

Before fight could escalate, Mother came from kitchen with Comic books drenched in water and scolded them for keeping the books in kitchen. Mother had accidently poured water on books. She warned father to not to bring comic books for kids from next month.

Bholu who was enjoying the fight between his elder brothers told them that it was he who kept the book in kitchen because no one tells him what’s written in the books. Sanju attacked Bholu with pillow but Pappu affectionately came in his rescue. Pappu then decided to read Chacha Chaudhary comic to Bholu.

Pappu told Bholu about ‘Chacha Chaudhary’ who was an old man with a mind sharper than a super computer. ‘Bini Chachi’ was his wife. ‘Sabu’ was a giant from Jupiter who decided to stay with Chacha Chaudhary because he liked Paratha and Halwa made by Bini Chachi. And Rocket was their loyal dog.

Pappu read all comic books to Bholu. Bholu was happy but then he had another desire. He wanted to eat Sabu ka paratha.

Bholu threw all tantrums to get Sabu ka paratha.

Mother cooked a paratha made of ‘Sabu dana’. Neither Bholu nor Pappu and Sanju liked it.

Mother then cooked them Aloo ka Paratha. Pappu and Sanju liked it but Bholu didn’t like it. He cried, cried and cried… Every day he was after mother to make Sabu ka paratha.

Father thought that Bholu was looking for a big Paratha. He borrowed a big tava from a community kitchen in nearby village. Mother made a big paratha for entire family.

Bholu was not impressed. He cried and said it wasn’t the paratha Sabu ate.

Mother than looked at picture of paratha in comic book.

She shaped the normal paratha just like it was in comic book. She garnished Paratha with mint plus tomato chutney coloured just like it was in comic book. She then carefully garnished paratha and Chutney exactly like it was shown in comic book. In dining table, mother kept plate with paratha and father opened the comic Book right next to Plate.

Bholu sat on father’s lap, Pappu loudly read the comic book and mother slowly fed Bholu peace by peace by her hands. Bholu was enjoying the blissful moment. He liked the taste and the manner he was treated.

After few bites Bholu cried again as on the other side of dinner table, Sanju had finished all the parathas faster than super computer.

014 Spiderman in eathquake: True story from our childhood

Snow clad mountains were glittering in bright Sun. Blue sky was not having any clouds and wind wasn’t blowing. That day’s bright sun was rare in winters.

Along with study, teacher and students were basking in the sunshine by having classes in playground of school. Children were sitting on ground in the green grass in front of blackboards kept on tripods and teachers in wooden chair. Most of the children were in school uniform- khaki pants, sky blue shirt and royal indigo woollen sweater. Everyone enjoyed the warmth amid cold weather.

Students of higher classes who were to appear in board examinations were having classes inside their class rooms. Class rooms were in a raw connected by a veranda. It was a two-story building made of stone cut into brick shape with slanted tin roof. Stair case and veranda had 4 feet high wooden railing and entire building had wooden flooring. Some used to say that school building was made in pre independence era.

Sanju and Bholu were in classes being held in the playground. Instead of listening to geography teacher, Sanju was day dreaming about becoming a super star. Bholu was getting bored in English language class and was sincerely waiting for classes to end so that he can play cricket.

Pappu was inside the first-floor classroom trying to understand complex mathematics equations which he never liked. Teacher asked a question in the class. Students who didn’t know the answer looked down and the ones who knew looked up. Teacher threw a chock at Pappu and asked him to answer. Pappu stood up reluctantly and before he could open his mouth – windows and doors swinged, while pictures fell of the wall and chairs moved.

It was an earthquake.

Everyone ran outside. There was a crowd crush at the stair case. In the melee, one student jumped off the veranda railing from first floor. He landed on the ground with his foot, sat down and revolved thrice before coming to stop and becoming unconscious.

Crowd made a circle around him as everyone came to see him. Sanu and Bholu thought it was their brother Pappu and started crying. They were trying to see his face from the outer circle as elder kids and teachers were in inner circle. They forced their way in crowd to come close to injured student, they saw some students were trying to help him and one of them gave him a friendly slap. Slap brought him back to consciousness; he stood up as fast as earthquake. He was unscathed and was not Pappu.

Pappu kept his hand on Sanju and Bholu’s back from behind and asked what happened to them. Both of them happily hugged Pappu with tears in eyes.

There was another crowd to get autograph of that lucky spiderman child. They ensured to take it before walking back home together.

#earthquakes 

#earthquake

#decisionmaking

#kidsactivities 

#KidsEducation 

#kidsnextdoor 

#SpiderMan 

#sudden decision

#jump

#suddendecison

#miracle

#naturalcalamity

#instinct

#survival

#survivalinstinct

013: The Thermometer and inquisitiveness : True story from our childhood

013: why Fahrenheit?

 

The Thermometer and inquisitiveness

Along with their parents, Pappu, Sanju and Bholu were living in a small town of Uttarakhand.

Due to extreme cold weather, Mother caught cough, cold and fever. Fever cured in a few days. It was then Pappu who fell sick. When Pappu recovered Sanju fell sick and when Sanju recovered Bholu fell sick. Bholu didn’t recover in few days.

Father was consulting doctor in primary health center for medicines. Doctor asked him to note down temperature of Bholu every morning and evening. He said if fever doesn’t go in next 3 days, a blood test would be required. Father went to a medicine shop and brought a thermometer.

Sanju looked at Thermometer with utmost curiosity. There was a bulb like shape at the bottom which had silver colour liquid filled in it. Bulb was connected with a tube which had a scale like marking on it. Instead of Centimetres, marking had Fahrenheit written on it. Scale didn’t start with zero but with 94 and went up-to 108. Sanju asked Father why this scale starts with 94 instead of zero. Pappu answered that body temperature was measured in Fahrenheit not in Centimetres. Pappu laughed at Sanju and told him that Sanju knew nothing. Pappu teased Sanju by calling him dumb and Sanju hit back with his books. Mother came before Pappu could hit him back and said he will hit him back tomorrow. Mother asked Father to teach them how to take body temperature and Father demoed it to all of them.

After Bholu’s temperature, they measured temperature for everyone. They pulled out pages from their school notebook and glued one page for every member next to the calendar on wall. They wrote temperature along with date and time on those pages with sketch pen.

Next morning, rays of sun came inside the room from windows. Father woke Sanju up and gave tea in the bed. Except eyes, nose and mouth, Sanju covered himself fully with quilt and sat on the bed with folded legs. With his right hand out from the front opening of the quilt, he took the first sip of tea. With strong taste in his tongue, tea passed down through oesophagus and an idea moved up in his mind. Idea could prove to Pappu that he wasn’t dumb. He kept the cup on the table next to bed and walked to Almirah along with quilt. He got the thermometer and came back to bed in the earlier condition. He then had cup of tea in his left hand and thermometer in right. He thought in his mind that he would prove to Pappu that he was the smartest fellow who can measure temperature of the warm tea.

He put thermometer into the tea.

Before he could take the readings, the bulb of the thermometer broke due to very high temperature of the tea. Silver colour mercury floated in the cup and Sanju was left with empty tube of broken thermometer in his hand.

Pappu saw it happily, called Father and …

#kids 

#kidsvideo 

#uttarakhand 

#parenting 

#parentingtips

#curiousmind

#mind

#cultivate innovatiion

#cultivate minds

#innovation by experiments

#enlightened experimentation