Thursday, November 22, 2012

The Eyes Have It – Heart stealing story by Ruskin Bond


I had the train compartment to myself up to Rohana, then a girl got in. The couple who saw her off were probably her parents. They seemed very anxious about her comfort and the woman gave the girl detailed instructions as to where to keep her things, when not to lean out of windows, and how to avoid speaking to strangers.
They called their goodbyes and the train pulled out of the station. As I was totally blind at the time, my eyes sensitive only to light and darkness, I was unable to tell what the girl looked like. But I knew she wore slippers from the way they slapped against her heels.
It would take me some time to discover something about her looks and perhaps I never would. But I liked the sound of her voice and even the sound of her slippers.
'Are you going all the way to Dehra? I asked.
I must have been sitting in a dark corner because my voice startled her. She gave a little exclamation and said, I didn't know anyone else was here.'
Well, it often happens that people with good eyesight fail to see what is right in front of them. They have too much to take in, I suppose. Whereas people who cannot see (or see very little) have to take in only the essentials, whatever registers tellingly on their remaining senses.
I didn't see you either,' I said. 'But I heard you come in.'
I wondered if I would be able to prevent her from discovering that I was blind. Provided I keep to my seat, I thought, it shouldn't be too difficult. The girl said, I am getting off at Saharanpur. My aunt is meeting me there.'
"Then I had better not get too familiar/ I replied. 'Aunts are usually formidable creatures.'
'Where are you going?' she asked. 'To Dehra and then to Mussoorie.'
'Oh, how lucky you are. I wish I were going to Mussoorie. I love the hills. Especially in October.'
'Yes, this is the best time,' I said, calling on my memories. "The hills are covered with wild dahlias, the sun is delicious, and at night you can sit in front of a log fire and drink a little brandy. Most of the tourists have gone and the roads are quiet and almost deserted. Yes, October is the best time.'
She was silent. I wondered if my words had touched her or whether she thought me a romantic fool. Then I made a mistake.
'What is it like outside?' I asked.
She seemed to find nothing strange in the question. Had she noticed already that I could not see? But her next question removed my doubts.
'Why don't you look out of the window?' she asked.
I moved easily along the berth and felt for the window ledge. The window was open and I faced it, making a pretence of studying the landscape. I heard the panting of the engine, the rumble of the wheels, and, in my mind's eye I could see telegraph posts flashing by.
'Have you noticed,' I ventured, 'that the trees seem to be moving while we seem to be standing still?'
"That always happens,' she said. 'Do you see any animals?'
'No,' I answered quite confidently. I knew that there were hardly any animals left in the forests near Dehra.
I turned from the window and faced the girl and for a while we sat in silence.
'You have an interesting face,' I remarked. I was becoming quite daring but it was a safe remark. Few girls can resist flattery. She laughed pleasantly—a clear, ringing laugh.
'It's nice to be told I have an interesting face. I'm tired of people telling me I have a pretty face.'
Oh, so you do have a pretty face, thought I. And aloud I said: 'Well, an interesting face can also be pretty.'
'You are a very gallant young man/ she said. 'But why are you so serious?'
I thought, then, that I would try to laugh for her, but the thought of laughter only made me feel troubled and lonely.
'We'll soon be at your station/ I said.
'Thank goodness it's a short journey. I can't bear to sit in a train for more than two or three hours.'
Yet I was prepared to sit there for almost any length of time, just to listen to her talking. Her voice had the sparkle of a mountain stream. As soon as she left the train she would forget our brief encounter. But it would stay with me for the rest of the journey and for some time after.
The engine's whistle shrieked, the carriage wheels changed their sound and rhythm, the girl got up and began to collect her things. I wondered if she wore her hair in a bun or if it was plaited. Perhaps it was hanging loose over her shoulders. Or was it cut very short?
The train drew slowly into the station. Outside, there was the shouting of porters and vendors and a high-pitched female voice near the carriage door. That voice must have belonged to the girl's aunt.
'Goodbye/ the girl said.
She was standing very close to me. So close that the perfume from her hair was tantalizing. I wanted to raise my hand and touch her hair but she moved away. Only the scent of perfume still lingered where she had stood.
There was some confusion in the doorway. A man, getting into the compartment, stammered an apology. Then the door banged and the world was shut out again. I returned to my berth. The guard blew his whistle and we moved off. Once again I had a game to play and a new fellow traveller.
The train gathered speed, the wheels took up their song, the carriage groaned and shook. I found the window and sat in front of it, staring into the daylight that was darkness for me.
So many things were happening outside the window. It could be a fascinating game guessing what went on out there.
The man who had entered the compartment broke into my reverie.
'You must be disappointed/ he said. 'I'm not nearly as attractive a travelling companion as the one who just left.' 'She was an interesting girl/ I said. 'Can you tell me—did she keep her hair long or short?'
'I don't remember/ he said sounding puzzled. 'It was her eyes I noticed, not her hair. She had beautiful eyes but they were of no use to her. She was completely blind. Didn't you notice?

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

What happened to Sai !!!

Chronicle of a MOTOR CYCLE accident....starring Nihar Jain


Friday, November 16, 2012

Children Day Celebration @ Sancta Maria


Children's Day Celebrations @ Sancta Maria begins in the school building Foyer as students and teachers gather up to kick off the festivities!!!


Grade 10 students light the diya's as they acknowledge Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru's love for children.


....and who can ring these goodies...??!!!



"Whenever you wear your hat, your day will be special."  More so if it happens to be Children's Day!!!



The 'Car Race' in action!!!!
Students sitting inside in the Foyer made paper caps like the one worn by Pandit Nehru.


An ingenious Balloon Throw game in progress.


Now, THIS is a game after my heart....!!!


The game 'Ring the Bell' had many students ringing the bell and walking off with chocolates!


A Heafty, Scrumptious breakfast included Aloo Parathas with yogurt, idly and vadas with different types of chutnies and sambar; and ice-cream to wash it all down!!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

A day with the potter


A day with the potter

Which potter am I talking of! The common potter not the proper Potter. Tricked ya! Here it is. I am talking of my experience with a professional potter not our famous Harry Potter.
“No, not at all “is the answer if the question in your mind is “Is she going to rant off about a day off she had!”.  I was very much in the school and had some wonderful experience with the potter’s wheel. It was sort of dream come true.
It goes back to the days when I was a teenager (or was I in my grad school!!), I saw a movie (don’t ask me which one as my memory of movie names is too poor) in which the lady in the movie was working at the potter’s wheel molding away some beautiful piece she has in mind, with very soft but energetic music playing as a back score. It looked so de-stressing and almost meditative to me. From that day on, I had this craving in me to try my hand at the potter’s wheel.
For my elder daughter’s seventh birthday, our family chose to celebrate it at a place called “Color Me Mine” – a paint-your-own ceramics studio. She picked up a ceramic penguin as her gift and we colored it with paints and glazes provided. I noticed on the shelves few clay pieces too. My craving rose again and I asked the staff if they had a potter’s wheel there for me to try but they said “Sorry ma’am, we only have a high capacity oven to glaze your creations and hand it back to you.” Well, my family brought up my spirits by poking the beautifully painted blue and white penguin with grey tail, bright black eyes and a cute smile, into my face.
Just a few years back when I visited the village museum at Shilparamam for the first time, I was thrilled to see a potter’s wheel in the Village Museum showcasing the Terracotta article making. I asked the authorities there if we could try the wheel. They said “No Ma’am, it’s only for display.” Well, I at least saw the potter’s wheel in close quarters.
Yesterday I accompanied my class to where the professional potter was seated, the area near the sports field of our school. He was invited to our school to have our kids make their own diya for Diwali. It’s beyond doubt that all Sancta Marians enjoyed the diya making thoroughly. As for me, I was thrilled when I heard teachers could try their hand at the potter’s wheel too. I (with the help of the potter, of course) made a small flower vase and carried it with my clay drenched hands (wanted to feel the clay on my hands as long as possible) and set it up on my table to dry. At last, my craving is appeased.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Simple remedy to treat burns

Thanks to my son, I have home remedies stored in my brain for ready reckoner for common problems. The current post is to share my experience with burns when my son was 1.5 years old.

He burnt his finger when his curiosity took over him and he touched a burning incense stick(agarbatti). It had been over a year to this incident but he never dared touching it again!!! Some lessons are learnt by literally burning fingers!!!

Immediately I remembered my mother's advice of handling burns and within 30 minutes, he forgot he had burnt his finger and it did not even leave any mark.

I followed these steps which proved helpful:

a) Immediately, allow the burnt area under plain running water for a minute or so. Avoid ice water as it may cause blisters.
b) Pat it dry and rub the area with cut potato.
c) If no potato, apply honey on the affected area.
d) After a while, apply calendula cream(you can get it from any homoeo store). Within minutes, it will alleviate the pain.
e) If calendula cream not available or not sure of the efficacy of it, then simply apply boroplus or borolene or apply some more honey.
f) Once the child is soothed a little, give him or her some warm milk with turmeric powder mixed in it. This really helps a lot to alleviate the pain.

In case a small blister forms, do not break it. The fluid inside will actually help heal the wound faster. Open blister will take more time to heal as well as cause more pain.

These were a few things in my knowledge, of course, there would be many more. Readers please share some more home-remedies for the benefit of all.

With best wishes to the parents and prayer of safety for all, I sign off!