Deep Ties

                                                                        ClipartKey Black holes have piqued the human imagination for quite a while now. However, when I was growing up, ‘black hole’ referred to something totally different. If a book disappeared, it went into the black hole. When Grandpa’s spectacles were not to be found on his nose, they most likely went into the black hole. Those green vegetables knew exactly where to slide down into from my plate… (oops, not meant for the ears of little children!) In short, whenever anything went missing, we visualised it going into this pitch-black hole with its mouth wide open. It was a universal joke in the family. The national lock-down  proclaimed by the Prime Minister meant that we were all to stay at home, and not stick a toe out unless essential (which meant different things to different people, of course!) For twenty-one whole days, at that! What could we do over twenty-one days? Speaking for myself, I vowed

                                                                     emilysquotes.com “People appreciate and never forget that helping hand especially when times are tough.”                                                                           Catherine Pulsifer People also never forget that unthinking hand that clenches and moves away in times of strife, that hand that thinks more of itself and refuses to see the larger picture. Covid-19 has taken over the world and understandably, the world is worried. One little but deadly organism has brought it to its knees. Alarming reports have been coming up about a certain kind of ostracism that has raised its ugly head. Ostracism against the very people who are risking their own lives to help fight the dreaded virus, namely members of the medical profession and airline crew members. What could be more unfair than this? Airline crews have been travelling across the world, airlifting passengers from COVID affected countr

                                                                         SparkPeople Do you remember those days when children played outside with their friends? Wide, open spaces when they didn’t have to worry about being mown down by speeding vehicles, or falling into open potholes, or being accosted by strangers. Those were the days when families lived together, and everyone knew every other person. Those days when life was simpler, and technology was a word that hovered somewhere in the future. Children grew up together, playing rough and tough games, wallowing in the mud, unabashed about getting their clothes dirty. They climbed trees, plucked green mangoes, and often came home, covered with scratches and reeking to high heaven. Their spirits would be high as they scrambled to have cold water baths, squealing with glee as they saw tiny rivers of dirt flowing into the sink hole. Once they were squeaky clean, they would often sit together, as the twilight hour spread

Social media does come out with the most unbelievable videos. The other day, when I was browsing, the title leapt out at me. “World's Shortest Horror Movie” Being a horror buff, I couldn’t help but peek at it. It was truly horrific. Several passengers wait at a bus stop on a rainy day. As they huddle together, one of them coughs and spits into a large puddle on the road right in front of them. Suddenly a bus speeds by over the puddle, drenching all of them in water, and in today’s scenario, maybe even a virus that could infect them all. Horrific, indeed! For those wanting a peek, here's the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2o-3Gn9xFg Corona virus is in the air, literally. And in droplets and infected hands and all surfaces in the world touched by humans. One glance around would make you feel as if you are in a sci-fi movie, with masked minions whose eyes dart around in trepidation. Spaces which were once crowded are now deserted, shelves in s

I remember first hearing the stories of Lord Vishnu at my grandmother’s knee, when she, a deeply religious lady, would describe the various avatars in graphic detail. I would listen, wide-eyed, entranced as she turned into the mischievous Krishna, the diminutive Vamana, the steadfast Rama and of course, the majestic Narasimha, half man, half lion. After one such recital, I remembered eyeing every pillar with awe, never sure if the image rooted in my imagination would spring out and catch me unawares. So, when I set out to read Piyusha Vir’s ‘Dashavatar’, published by Readomania, I looked forward to going back to my childhood. The prologue fascinated me. “When I first set out to write the stories of Vishnu, little did I know what a gigantic cauldron of wealth I was diving into.” How true, especially as the author ended by saying that her aim was to take a second look at the stories and analyse how they fit into contemporary society. The stories themselves are easy to