చిత్ర కవిత- అంతకు ముందు- ఆ తర్వాత

అంతకు ముందు- ఆ తర్వాత

బాంబు పేలే ముందు ఆమె ఒక ఆకతాయి ఆడపిల్ల

ఆ తరువాత ఆమె ఒక స్ఫూర్తిదాత.

A Teacher’s Day

          I packed my bag and water-bottle to leave school for the day, after Jana Gana Mana. As I alighted the steps of my first floor class room, I noticed him standing at the rear gate, waiting for me to come out. I knew that he was there for me because the maid, who was to carry the school bag, was away. How unfair this was! True, I cannot carry my heavy schoolbag. But that shouldn’t mean that he carry it. How did Amma agree to this arrangement, in first place? Now that he’s shown up here, should I make him carry my bag? No way! The moment I reached the rear gate, I found his outstretched arm eager to take hold of my heavy bag. It was so endearing that anyone but I would have happily handed over the bag to him gleefully and made the way back home. But I wasn’t going to give up, not as yet. ‘I cannot’, I said, still wondering how Amma had agreed to put him to this much of strain. ‘No, dear, give it to me’, he said, as he gently took away my bag from my shoulder.  I looked at his face, which showed the signs of ageing, but then his lean frame betrayed the strong arms which were a part of it

Of Leaders & Losers 5. Who should be the Scribe?

          Many times, we think we are doing a great job by being helpful to people in need.  This story attempts to see this attitude in new light.

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          Amrita held the hand of an unknown person with disability when he was about to step into a trench dug up on the roadside for underground drainage, and thereby, prevented him from falling.  She was glad she assisted a blind person.