5 Unique products to buy on Jabong for your home

There is a popular quote which goes ‘Home is where the heart is’, therefore it’s important to make your home special so that the heart always follows towards home. Here is a list of few unique items available on Jabong.com which makes your home all the more beautiful, exciting and fun place to live in.

#1 – Ravenn Shot Glass

It’s time that you again start playing the famous board game of all time – LUDO, but in a different way all together. Invite friends to your home, re-live your childhood days along with shots of vodka or whatever beverage you prefer. This innovative product will make you more indulgent towards this game as it will stop you from drinking your shot unless you win, hence more fun.

http://www.jabong.com/Ravenn-Shot-Glass-74451.html

#2 – Swayam Standard Kitchen Set

Let us all admit that women’s spend most of their time at home in kitchen preparing delicious and healthy food for you every day. So all the responsible sons and good husbands, here is a product that you should be looking at.

This is a complete kitchen set which will make your mother or wife feel special. Make her look like a chef and let her know that she is doing great at what she does. You can select from a variety of colour options and different designs as per your house or kitchen’s interior. This is the least that you can do for her if you had a fight and trust me it will solve the issue.

http://www.jabong.com/home-living/home-furnishing/kitchen-table/kitchen_linen_set/

#3 – Quechua Airbed

Who doesn’t likes sleeping? Wrong question, everyone does.

A good night’s sleep is the most important part of the day and it is perfect when comfort is involved. Personally I don’t like the idea of Jute cum Foam mattresses because they are solid and annoying.

Quechua Airbed is a unique product that improves comfort with its velvet surface and air filled inside it. This is also ideal for camping or travelling. And if you are going to friends or relatives place then you can easily carry your bed for ultimate comfort.

http://www.jabong.com/P300-AIRBED-HIKING-ACCESSORIES-26187.html

#4 – Element Swing

If you love reading, if you enjoy watching rain, if you drink tea or coffee during sunrise or sunsets then this swing has a perfect place in your balcony or terrace. Build of good quality this product is capable enough to take upto 104kgs of weight, which means that two teenagers can cutely cuddle in this swing. Replace your plastic chair with this strong swing so that you can spend quality time alone.

http://www.jabong.com/home-living/home-accessories/home-utilities/swing/

#5 – Table Lamp

Pebble Table Lamp is an ideal gift for your loved one. It will cast the heart shaped shadow on the wall while illuminating the room, hence making it even more romantic for your partner to think about you. Don’t wait for valentine’s day, buy it and keep it safe. You can either gift it on her birthday, or valentine’s day or on any special date which is important for you two.

http://www.jabong.com/Pebble-Table-Lamp-101448.html

Extra Expensive Affair

This brown storage rack is an expensive affair but it will definitely add an artistic look to your drawing room. This rack is not only elegantly designed but it also gives a heritage look. This is perfect to keep sculptures, books, photo frames or anything else. Whatever you keep on it, it will add a royal touch to your room.

http://www.jabong.com/Brown-Storage-Rack-57204.html

Enjoy JABONGing.

CREMATION

Written By: Sandeep Bisht

Chapter 1: Rediscovering Family

I was responsible for the death of my wife and my son. If I wouldn’t have driven fast on that foggy night then probably they would have been alive. Sometimes in order to comfort myself from those poignant memories I feel that I was not the only one responsible for that accident but three more persons. Firstly, my son who excited me to drive fast, secondly my wife who didn’t stopped me and thirdly the driver who parked his truck in the middle of the highway.

The iron rods loaded on that truck pierced the throat of my wife and my son. They both were gasping for breath but I couldn’t do anything about it. Red color haunts me ever since I saw blood spilling from their body like a fountain in the garden. I still wonder that whether I was lucky to survive or doomed to live the rest of my life alone in dismay. 

Left with an aimless life I thought of adopting children from an orphanage so as to shape up their future with education and by fulfilling their needs. I adopted eight children and brought them to my home located in outskirts of Delhi. I bore all their expenses to make their lives better.

I have earned money my entire life, sometimes through illegal means as well. Previously I used to run after money in order to fulfill every need of my family, but after that accident I was left with nothing but money itself. All my desires of earning money came to an end. 

With the rest of my life I wanted to do something worthy so I took this step of adopting eight children, because I was capable enough to make their life worth it.

I admitted all of them in same school in order to make their routine same. At home I created a special room for them with bunk beds. It was tough to organize everything for them in the beginning but I got used to it after few weeks. 

Spending time with them made me feel happy. I might have lost my son but now I was with eight of them. Sometimes it felt like my child was speaking through some of the children I adopted. But maybe it was just some attributes that they had in common with my son, I thought.

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Chapter 2: Call of the Unknown Land

Two months passed and I rejoiced the time shared with my children, even they enjoyed my company. I was occupied in doing things for them and that made me think less about my deceased family. Sometimes people questioned me for adopting only boys and not even a single girl. But I knew, had I adopted girls, they would have thought that I have something else on my mind. I didn’t want anyone to point their finger at me with suspicious thoughts so I adopted boys. I insured all of them in case of any tragic circumstances. 

Summer vacations started and after a couple of weeks the kids got bored of home, so I thought of a day picnic in forest. I packed lunch, bed sheets and some other necessary items and drove them to a nearby area where road ends. I always wanted to walk the forest located on Aravalli Range. We carried all the stuff and started walking in dense forest. The kids were enjoying this unique experience and so was I. 

We constantly walked for more than four kilometers in nowhere and rested after equal intervals. I wanted them to experience the wilderness of nature and witness the sunset with beautiful landscape as its silhouette. After walking another kilometer, I saw small grassland from distance. It was a perfect place for having lunch I thought and headed towards it, the kids followed me. 

I had no idea what I was getting into. That mysterious place lured me to walk towards it but I couldn’t recognize. As soon as I reached there, the kids started playing and running whereas I stood still. 

I started to comprehend the meaning behind the things that were in front of me, and soon the story was clear. I saw broken pots, ashes, medicines, injections, wooden logs and dresses of girl child. When I combined the meaning of all these materials I was shocked.

Summing up those materials it was obvious that parents who had girl child brought them here and fed them medicines. When medicines didn’t work they tried to kill them by injecting poison in their nerves. After those girls died, they took off their clothes to cremate them. The broken pots indicated that those girls were first murdered and then a cremation ceremony was performed for them. There were eight broken pots and after looking at the dresses of girls, it was clear that they were not more than six years old.

How could anyone kill their own child so deliberately? I wondered. When I adopted kids I came to know about those parents who left their children in orphanage or in dustbins and now there were parents who killed their daughters.

That small grassland was cursed and all my kids were playing. I saw them laughing, eating, picking up things, rolling on ground and two of them got hurt. I stood silent for five minutes because I got into a state of trance while comprehending the meaning behind those objects lying on the ground. 

I called everyone in order to leave that eerie place as soon as possible. Only six of them gathered and two were missing. I searched for them and saw them standing on an edge. I called their names but they didn’t turn back. When I walked towards them I saw that they were standing on the edge of a well.

There was a rope hanging inside the well. For a moment I felt that they were hypnotized by something and the moment I shook them, they came back to normal. Their hands were bleeding with minor cuts, so I bandaged them and left that place.

I was terrified with this disturbing incident and got worried for my children. It started raining while we were walking back to home. Rain made our journey tougher. These complexities were stopping us but somehow we managed to reach the road. I drove kids back to home and asked them to sleep.

While they were sleeping inside their room in the evening, I came outside my house to walk. That disturbing view was constantly running on mind for the rest of the night.

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Chapter 3: Disappearance

After preparing breakfast that morning I called kids but none of them came down. I went upstairs to make sure that they are fine. While climbing the stairs I saw that the door is slightly opened. I peeked in through the door and saw four kids standing in front of their separate bunk beds lost in some thoughts.

I saw enraged flames from distance at night and felt its heat on my skin even after standing far away from it. Those flames indicated me to come closer. I couldn’t control myself and walked towards it. As I reached there, I saw human bodies burning alive. They screamed and shouted in pain, their voice was piercing my ears. A large blazing flame captured me and started engulfing me. I shook my body to get out of the fire and woke up from this haunting dream. It was a nightmare and beginning of something terrible that was going to happen, I wondered.

The silence inside the room left me with uneasiness. I opened the door and walked in and they wished me good morning. This sudden change in their activity left me puzzled. I asked them where the other four kids are and they pointed towards the bunk beds, not knowing that they weren’t there. 

I asked them “when did you saw them last”?

“When we slept last night” replied Ankur and rest nodded in agreement.

I looked for them in garage, store room, terrace, everywhere but couldn’t find them. Entire afternoon I searched for them in neighborhood and returned back home empty handed in the evening. I got worried. Could the disappearance of kids be related with our visit to that isolated cremation ground, I doubted.

Informing this to the cops was a right thing to do, I wondered. But then I thought of waiting till next morning. While preparing dinner for the kids, I prayed for the kids to come back. My instincts told me that mysterious disappearance of four kids might have some connection with the cremation ground.

The other four kids were also acting weird and their behavior was strange. At night I went up to their room and served them dinner.

“The other kids, they are playing hide n seek, don’t worry they will come home tomorrow morning when they will feel hungry”, I said in order to comfort them.

I was bewildered to see them serving too much food on their plates. Sitting at the dining table I saw them taking their plates to the corners of the room. Each one of them sat on the floor at four different corners of the room, facing nothing but wall.

They started eating hungrily in very unusual manner, as if someone else is making them eat all that food in order to quench their hunger. While watching them eat like this, it was hard for me to swallow food. Every grain of rice pinned down my throat with this sight in front of me. I was now certain that something evil has captured the souls of these kids. 

I read somewhere many years back that evil spirits tend to control children much more easily if compared with an adult, and these kids were their target this time. All of a sudden I started fearing their presence.

“Good night kids, I will see you in the morning” said I and left downstairs.

I couldn’t think of any solution, or how to deal with this type of situation. While lying down on my bed I waited for time to pass by. I was waiting for dawn.

Couple of hours passed but I was unable to sleep. I constantly looked out of the window. The winds were blowing the branches of trees on a full moon night. As the wind stopped blowing and everything was still, I heard someone walking down. As I peeked out of my room I saw four kids walking unconsciously without whispering.

At first I thought of stopping them, but then I thought the evil spirits who are making them walk might have captured the other four kids in the same way. I quietly followed them because it was the only way to find other four kids.

Barefooted they walked on the empty road and entered the forest, whereas I followed them. While walking on the moonlit path behind them I was sure of one thing, they were going to isolated cremation ground. 

Walking down the dense jungle they stepped on thorns, twisted their ankles on stones, still they kept walking. The urge to unfold this mystery made me less human. I didn’t stop them to go any further, I rather pursued them.

At 2am we reached the haunted cremation ground. In this vast empty land the only sound I could hear was of chirping crickets. I observed four kids from distance walking towards the well. I gathered pace and ran towards them. 

“Stop, Stop. Ankur, Anand, Milan, Sidharth. Stop”, I shouted out loud.

They stopped, standing on the edge of the well and turned back.

“Come… Come. Lets go home” I said in a shivering tone.

All four of them stood still in their place with their eyes fixed on me. I wasn’t looking at them but the devil that they had inside.

“You can’t stop all this” said Ankur and jumped inside the well, followed by other three kids.

“No…” I screamed and ran towards them. 

I collapsed on the ground as I saw them plunging inside the well and disappear from my sight.

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Chapter 4: Cremation

I was traumatized with this whole incident but not even a single tear shed from my eyes because of the state of shock I was in. I gained strength and walked up to the edge of the well. It was deep and nothing was visible. I checked an old rope hanging inside the well and slowly rappelled down.

I stepped inside the bottom of the well where muddy water was gathered and an unusual foul smell made it more unbearable to stand there. Nothing was visible inside the well so I picked up a body and climbed up through rope. I checked whether Milan is alive or not, but he was dead. 

I went back inside and brought another dead body with me, he was Anand. By the time I brought the dead body of Ankur I was totally exhausted. I rappelled down and found out that more bodies are lying there. With my hands I felt five bodies lying inside the well.

One by one I brought every dead body. Four kids who were missing, died in exact same manner a day before. Eight dead bodies were lying down in front on me as dawn struck the day. None of them survived.

I cried and shouted “what was their mistake”, but the evil spirits didn’t respond to me.

The evil spirits of the girls who were summoned to death on this ground envied boys because they themselves didn’t come in this world as a boy. If the dead girls were brought in this world as a boy then probably they would have been alive and adapted by their parents.

There are certain things in life which has no answers, no explanations but only realization which doesn’t comes with hearing or seeing, but by experiencing.

Nobody would believe in the reason behind the death of these kids, I wondered. So it was inefficient to take them back, and if I inform police about this incident then they would hold me in custody and declare me responsible for their death, I thought.

I insured all the kids but now this insurance was the only thing with which police might have suspected me for killing all eight children.

I started collecting woods in forest in order to prepare for cremation of the deceased. The dream I had the other night was about to come true as dusk approached.

I was in front of eight dead bodies lying over the wooden logs. While giving fire to bodies, I knew that after this cremation has been performed I will have to spend the rest of my life in desolation. I couldn’t go back even if I want to because people will start questioning, and the truth will be unacceptable for them.

I saw bodies burning and cursed people responsible for the death of those girls who were cremated in this ground. I decided to spend the rest of my life in this place, sometimes I went out in search of food.

I knew the truth behind this ground so I guarded it. Whenever I saw people unknowingly approaching this cursed place, I threw stones at them so that they would run away. I stopped everyone from entering this ground because I didn’t wanted them to suffer the same way, as I did.

In return they called me mental, psycho and often abused but it didn’t make any difference to me. I knew what I was doing.

Even after spending months and years there, I never got a chance to communicate with the evil spirits yet I felt their presence.

***

The Final Goodbye

Written By: Sandeep Bisht

Long time back when civilization didn’t stepped on the immaculate beauty of planet earth, it was tough to survive and life was worth living. In the wilderness of forested mountains during that era, lived a Master with his Dog. It was the era when humans realized that animals are not for merely hunting but they can be great companions as well. Human mind evolved during this phase and they shifted from caves to houses made of stones and wood. Animals and humans lived together in harmony and their only aim in life was to survive. 

The harsh winters were knocking the door of the mountains and both Master and his Dog preferred to stay inside their house for most of the time. They would sit near fire for hours and the dog fetched wooden logs right before the fire extinguished. 

 The master was working on a piece of deer’s skin to make a collar for his dog and as soon as he was finished with it, he tied it over his dog’s neck. For two days the dog made every possible effort to grab his collar and tear it with his sharpened teeth but he failed and finally adapted it. 

The master would spend hours sharpening his arrows for hunting and his dog would simply sit there in front of him. They shared a great bond, they ran together, hunt together, ate together and played together. It was a small family, very small indeed. 

As years passed by the master grew strong and his dog started aging. Dogs generally live for around 14years and this one already turned 9years old. The dog’s physical strength was decreasing but he gave his best and the master was never disappointed in him. One day while hunting a wild goat the master accidentally fell into a bush from height and got hurt. The dog dragged him out by pulling his self made woolen jacket with all his strength. The master’s leg was bleeding and they went back to their home. 

That night when master was sleeping, the dog was awake to guard their place and also because he was worried. All of a sudden the dog sensed someone’s presence, someone unwanted. He walked up to the gate and barked out loud to show that he is not afraid and has strength to tear apart the unwanted.

He looked back and saw that his master was still sleeping, so he walked three steps more and barked again. He saw shining eyes behind a tree and kept gazing there for a while. He walked towards it slowly with curiosity. When the dog reached near that tree a leopard jumped towards him to grab his throat with all her strength but the dog managed to escape and started running in opposite direction.

The chase didn’t end here and the dog made leopard run after him in circles. The leopard took another leap towards the dog and managed to thrash his back with his heavy claw. The dog cried in pain but he stood up in front of leopard to fight.

The master woke up and saw that his dog isn’t there, he focused on the sound and came out to see his dog fighting bravely with wild leopard. The master went back inside for his bow and arrow, but he failed to do it quickly because of his injured leg.

The moment he came outside and aimed towards the leopard, the dog jumped down the terrace field to escape and leopard also jumped following the dog. The master missed the target. He went back inside and came out with a fire torch. He tried to run as fast as he could to reach the place where dog and leopard jumped and saw no one there.

He kept searching for traces all night but failed to spot his dog or leopard. The master kept searching for his dog in the forest for three days and three nights, and often cried and shouted madly in despair. Every single day of his last nine years were spent with this dog and he didn’t even get a chance to wave him final goodbye.

Deeply depressed, he kept on trudging the forest and finally found his dog’s collar with some blood spots on it. While holding the collar tear shed from his eyes. Filled with rage and anger, he decided to find the leopard and kill her. The master wanted to avenge leopard for killing his dog.

He started searching for the leopard and found her lying on the ground. He observed her from a safe distance. He took out his bow and arrow to pierce the heart of the leopard to retaliate. As he aimed at the heart of the leopard a cub came above the leopard and started chewing her ear. He realized that she is a leopardess. Two more cubs came jumping and started drinking the milk from leopardess’s breasts. The arrow was about to slip from the hands of the master but he held it there for a while.

He realized that if he kills the leopardess then somehow he will also be responsible for the death of three cubs. Those three cubs made him doubt over his decision of killing the leopardess. But he badly wanted to release all his anger through his finger tips, so he released the arrow towards the sky. He decided not to kill the leopardess for the sake of survival of her cubs. The master and his dog survived for years by hunting animals and this was for the first time when they were attacked. It was a nature cycle that goes circular and the circle ended with this incident. He gasped and started walking back towards his home with lowered head and collar in his hand.

The clouds started gathering and in the evening he reached back home. He saw his dog lying in front of his house, when he moved closer he saw him badly wounded and panting for breath. The master couldn’t believe that he is alive, he took his head in his arms and started crying.

A loud thunder strike made the master look towards sky and it started raining. The moment he looked back towards his dog, he wasn’t there. He was gone. He still felt that his hands are holding something but nothing was visible, his hands felt the heaviness. The master then realized that his dog was already dead but maybe his soul came to see him for one last time, to wave him the final goodbye. That night the master realized one truth about life, “sometimes you got to believe in things that don’t exist”.

Letter to God

Dear God,

Today at school I read about existence of earth, planets and stars, life and death. I had so many questions running on my mind but I couldn’t ask my teacher because I was afraid, that’s why I am writing you this letter to ask all those questions.

Why is that every person, every animal, every tree has to die someday? Why can’t they live forever, what harm will they do if they will live forever? Why do people get old when it’s tough to live after getting old?

I don’t want to get old, I don’t want to die, I don’t want people to die whom I love, who are special for me. God please tell me what should I do to save people from dying. What should I do to prevent them from aging? Tell me anything and I will do it. I know I am being stupid, and that is maybe because I am just 11 years old girl.

Where do people go after dying? Where shall we go to meet them? I never saw my grandma, she was pretty I want to meet her. God where can I find her?

Today my teacher told me that earth will get destroyed after thousands of years. Is that true?  My teacher says whatever is written in the text book.

What will happen if the earth gets destroyed? Will my home also get destroyed? She said that no humans will be alive on earth by that time.

I keep on imagining the empty earth since then. The streets where no one is walking, vacant buildings, no one playing in the parks, no one to watch movies or cartoons, no talking no fighting, no hospitals no injections, there won’t be trees, no birds and animals and no one to observe all this emptiness in the world.

I think it will be so weird then, I love it how earth is now. I don’t want it to be changed. Why is it that everything has to change?  Why have you made the earth like this? God, I am not questioning you but I just need answers.

Marie

The Suicide

Part - One


Written by:- Sandeep Bisht

It was a Wednesday afternoon when I came out of my office for a smoke to soothe myself. The work pressure was pulling me down from a couple of months now. For six consecutive months I was awarded - ‘Best Sales Agent’ in my Health Insurance company. That was the time when I touched new heights in my career and from past two months I was swimming around new depths.

While smoking I was constantly thinking that how my focus from work has shifted to blank spaces and how I am reduced to way below than a mediocre performer. Nothing terrible happened with me, no break-ups, no death in the family because I don’t have anyone left by now, no drug addiction. Probably I need a break or I need to switch job and do something new, I thought.

After finishing my cigarette I turned back to walk towards office door. While walking back I felt that the blazing sun is engulfing me, I couldn’t move all of a sudden, the sun rays started piercing my body and I collapsed in front of my office.

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Next thing I remember, I was lying on a ward care bed in a hospital where my friend Ritesh was a doctor. He was standing right in front of me holding a notepad. I got excited as soon as I looked him and I tried to lift my body but I struggled hard to do so.

“Hey, relax. Relax.  So finally you woke up. I thought you were in a coma.” said Ritesh in an attempt to cheer me up.

“In that case I would have hired you to clean my shit every single day.” said I laughingly.

After this light moment of joy, I asked him “What happened, how did I get in here? All I remember was that I collapsed.”

“One of your colleagues brought you here, but don’t worry you might have collapsed due to weakness or lack of sleep” said he.

“I guess it’s because of work pressure” I replied.

“You will be fine, just relax. Give yourself a break. Stay here for a couple of days. You will get it covered with your health insurance. Feel like home” said he smilingly.

I had no problem staying at the hospital apart from the fact that I hated hospitals. Hospitals are very boring and sadistic place, even a happy-go-lucky person will get sad after spending couple of hours inside any hospital.

“I have also taken your blood sample just to ensure whether it’s some disease or not” said Ritesh.

“Yes, to be on the safer side” I agreed.

As he was leaving the ward room of the hospital I asked him to give me some lotion to apply on a wound on my leg.

“Let me take a look at it… Did you get this today” said he with a confused expression and after carefully examining my wound.

“No, it’s been more than a month. This wound is not healing, I don’t know what’s wrong with it” said I.

“Ok apply this for the meantime and I will be back with reports tomorrow morning. If you need anything just ring the bell, we have some good looking nurses here” said he as he was about to leave the room.

“Don’t worry, I won’t call them sister” I said laughingly.

The mischievous side of me was back in its flow and I ranged the bell. Within half a minute I saw a black, weird looking female in her late 30s in front of me.

“Yes Mr. Anirudh, do you need anything” she asked with utter honesty.

“No… No. It was by mistake. Thank You” I said to avoid indulging more in this embarrassing situation.

After having the simple and tasteless dinner at the hospital I went to sleep, because there wasn’t much to do. 

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As I woke up next morning Ritesh was sitting near me, he looked sad.

“Did your wife ask you for divorce?” I asked him.

He didn’t replied but made the no gesture by shaking his head with no expression on his face.

“Then what’s wrong, cheer up.” I said mocking him.

“Look I don’t want to play with words, because I am not good at it. I want to tell you this as straight as possible. I have already checked it thrice and this can’t be wrong. I don’t know what” as he was constantly saying, I thought of interrupting him because whatever he was talking about was going way above my head.

“Stop… stop. You are playing with words right now. Tell me straight what is it? You are kind of freaking me out” I said.

“Anirudh, you are HIV positive” said he with all the sadness in this world collected on his face.

“Oh, and I thought you would say that my blood group is AB positive. Come on I am way too matured for these kinds of jokes” I said making fun out of what he said. I knew that he wasn’t kidding but by making fun of him I just wanted to assure myself that I am totally fine.

“What, seriously” I asked him with fear and he nodded while looking down at the floor.

He further told me that AIDS is the reason why my wound was not healing and that AIDS is the reason why I am gradually getting weaker not only physically but mentally as well. It felt like lightening penetrated my heart, my life has come to an end now, i thought.

I would have lived more happily in the absence of this truth and after knowing the fact that I am suffering from AIDS, I feel even more weak and exhausted.

“Well AIDS is a slow poison just like your cigarettes, people suffering from this disease live long enough if they are on proper medication” said Ritesh to calm me down and further went to write a medical prescription for me.

But the truth is always harsh and difficult to accept. I knew that I am not an innocent guy and I was ready to believe that I am suffering from AIDS. It’s not that some barber might have used a used blade of someone suffering from AIDS when I was there for shaving. It’s not that I was eating out at a restaurant when some HIV positive chef’s drop of blood went into my stomach along with the dish that he prepared. It’s not that I accidentally stepped on an already used injection. I knew the truth from where I might have got contaminated with this disease – brothels.

I am a 33years old working person who earns good but never had a single girlfriend in my life, may be because I am not handsome, may be because I was not ready, may be because they didn’t trusted me, whatsoever the reason be I was left with only one choice to fulfill my pleasures and desires, and that is why I often went to brothels.

When you walk on the road of pleasure the shadow of sin is always your companion. It is the desire for pleasure that evolves the sinister side of a human being. I walked on the same road and invited my destruction with open arms.  

Instead of making an honest living with the money I earned, I chose to enjoy life to the fullest, I chose to experience everything. In a way I felt happy to have experienced almost everything, knowing that I am going to die soon. But if I hadn’t chosen to be on the dark side, then I wouldn’t be here sitting in this hospital suffering from AIDS.

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After spending four more days at the hospital, Ritesh told me that now I can go home to get back to the daily routine of mine and he also advised me to do rest more if possible and to keep myself busy. After going home whatever I did and whatever I thought about, I just couldn’t wipe-off the undeniable fact from my mind that I was going to die soon. This very thought started haunting me. I started smoking more cigarettes. For two days I hallucinated that the ‘messenger of death’ is calling me from distance to take me to hell.

I never went back to the office because I didn’t want them to know that I am HIV+. Days were passing slowly and time was eating me because every single moment I thought of death. I never thought that the very idea of death will have such a devastating impact on me.

I wanted to kill the fear that was crawling inside my heart and soul like a rattle snake and to do that I must kill myself, I thought. I climbed up the terrace of my six floor tall building and slowly walked to its edge. My heart started pumping faster, my eyes were wet, uncountable thoughts were speeding through my mind and before I could focus on anything – I jumped.

My suicide can be briefly defined in three words Jump, Fall and Fly. In a way they are similar but I got a whole new outlook towards my life with these.

Jump: I jumped from the terrace hoping that all my obstacles will come to an end but along with my life of course. It’s height of stupidity that in an attempt to escape from a disease I was ready to give up my life.

Fall: As I was falling I thought that I am not only falling physically but on moral level as well. Where from did I gathered this much courage to give away my life so easily, I wondered. 

Fly: As soon as I passed a couple of balconies while falling I realized that in a way I am flying.

An individual’s character is defined by how their perspective is, towards different things. For instance, I was frustrated and afraid when I jumped. I was sad and helpless when I was falling. But the moment I realized that I am flying, I had a smile on my face and I sensed a new beginning within. With every stroke of wind on my face while flying I felt like an old withered tree who is greeted by a tiny green leaf on its dry branch after rain showers.

We all grow up knowing the fact that someday death will overcome us. That day might be today, it might be tomorrow or some 20 years from now, it can be any day. Still we live unboundedly with numerous dreams to accomplish, showing brave side of ourselves.

It is true that living with AIDS would have been tough because of the fear of death, but I failed to realize that death would get me anyhow, sooner or later. But it’s too late to think about all this now I thought, just before the gravity of earth pulled me towards her with all her force.

I thanked myself for not creating any wish list else I would have felt pity not to accomplish them. I was lying on the road unable to move any part of my body. As I was about to close my eyes I thought it would never open again, it would never again see the beauty of this world that I failed to recognize.

***

Musical Maestro - KARSH KALE

Music needs no words to explain, but words do make it more effective. Karsh Kale is a sheer talented artist who blends music with words in such a way that it turns magical, and his instrumental tracks speaks for itself.

India listens to movie albums on a very large scale and individual music albums have very limited reach. We love listening to fresh music of A.R.Rahman and Amit Trivedi. We appreciate feel good songs composed by Vishal-Shekhar and Shankar Ehsaan Loy. But most of us are missing out on one musical maestro – KARSH KALE.

Karsh Kale is an Indian American tabla player, drummer, singer, DJ, and a music producer. He composes songs with Indian classical instruments like Tabla, Sitar, and Flute and merges it with electronica, drums and ambient music beats. The output of this electronic fusion is a totally new genre that in my terms can be called as “Indian Trance”. Karsh Kale has worked with renowned musical legends like Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Sultan Khan, Bill Laswell, Anoushka Shankar, and many more.

Though many of us don’t know much about Karsh Kale but he has played a vital role in spreading the rich sounds of traditional Indian instruments, out in the west. What makes Karsh Kale special is his contemporary approach towards Indian Classical Music. Karsh Kale creates the perfect fusion of Indian Classical Music with western touch to it. Most of his instrumental tracks are pulsating yet soothing. Karsh Kale deserves much more recognition in India. I now respect Tabla, after seeing some videos of Karsh Kale playing live.

Recently, Karsh Kale composed background score for Dum Maaro Dum and Karthik Calling Karthik. The soundtrack of movie Soundtrack is also composed by Karsh Kale, shared with Midival Punditz. Karsh Kale has performed across the globe at various concerts, thus connecting people of other countries with Indian music. Distance and One Step Beyond are two tracks that were included by Microsoft in Windows Vista, and that is how I came to know about Karsh Kale.

It’s true that things changes with time and so do music. We might not love simple classical music but mixing and altering it in the modern form surpasses every other genre of music. Karsh Kale is exceptionally talented in this field. This thought strikes my mind while listening to some instrumental tracks composed by him - "If I listen to these songs just before my death, then I will surely land in heaven". My perspective towards life has undergone an optimistic change, ever since I started listening to Karsh Kale. 

Do spread the word by sharing this post if you appreciate the music of this talented artist.

Here is a list of some links where you can listen to Karsh Kale:

Distance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilcJTwE5lw0

Milan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2NcrNxzkPg
Milan (Live): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_e8bOjd7tg&feature=related
The Longing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ultm_WZuVQw

Anja: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDr1xm3EL1A

Cinema: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNLMD9wMq2E

Dancing at Sunset: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1a8cvbScXY

Deepest Blue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYSqUn2L5ko

Instinct: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PyJtb-6_40

Abyss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTLSSztuWTs

One Step Beyond: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1N0E13gwtI

Know More: http://karshkale.com/

PSYCHIC LOVE

Written by :- Sandeep Bisht

At the far end of lush green college ground, he was sitting on a bench under the shades of a tree, waiting for me. I was late as usual but Nishant wasn’t sketching as he usually did. Something was different today, something unusual, I could sense it.

“Sorry I am late”, I said to Nishant.

“Riya, I am used to it” said he.

The weather was lovely and we constantly talked about random things for more than an hour. It started drizzling and Nishant held my hands.

“I am going to tell you something, a secret that I haven’t told to anyone. But you have to promise me one thing that this truth won’t bring any change in our friendship”, as he said these words my heart started beating faster, I was puzzled yet I had a hint about what he is about to say.

Drizzling, my hands in his, a perfect time to propose someone and I was ready for it. I have liked him for quite some time now but I didn’t want to initiate.

I gave him a neutral reaction and said “If you haven’t told this secret to anyone then why me”. I was successful in hiding my excitement by using these words. The ball was in his court now.

“Because you are the only person I trust most”, said he. This was the moment when I fell for him. From inside I was like. Just say it and my answer won’t be no, but just like any other girl I didn’t give much importance to his powerful words.

“Ok, I promise, now tell what is it”, I said.

“I am psychic, various incidents flashes through my mind before they actually happen”, said he.

He remained silent and waited for me to react or at least say something. All my curiosity came to a drastic end, not because he is psychic, but because I was hoping that he would say something else, something more worthy. It’s true that fear and desire makes you believe in things which are not actually real.

“I won’t tell it to anyone, but when did this happen”, I said, just to divert my mind off my imaginary world which I was experiencing from past five minutes.

“Ever since I met with that bike accident. I was so close to being dead, it was a close call”, he said.

“Look at that guy, his coffee will spill now”, he said pointing towards a guy who was walking in the ground holding a tray. I looked at that guy and yes his coffee did spill on his clothes.

I was amazed with his psychic powers so I asked him, “have you ever tried to intervene any such incident from happening”.

“Yes I tried it a couple of times but I was never able to convey the message on time, at that time I thought that some things are meant to happen, it’s all written, so who am I to intervene the decision of god who created us all”, said he.

I wish I could get those powers I said to myself. We discussed about psychic world in depth, where I kept on asking questions and he was answering. We sat there for hours and in the evening we left. Before going to sleep I thought, I was so close to getting into a relationship but my fate took a wrong turn. I was concerned about Nishant and his being a psychic made me think even more about him.

…………………........................................................................................................................................

Next morning we were together walking on the wet streets of Lodi Road.

“Don’t answer it” said Nishant, and suddenly my phone rang. I gave him a confused expression because for a second I could'nt figure out what just happened.

“Don’t answer its bad news” he said again.

But an undeniable fact is that when you tell somebody for not doing a particular thing, he/she will do the same (the act of curiosity, cum stupidity). I was curious to know what was coming my way and I picked by the call. It was Rajeev our mutual friend.

“Riya, I met with an accident, please don’t tell Nishant about it, I was on his bike. I will get it repaired, can you lend me 5,000 rupees in the evening”. Rajeev said all this in one go as if he is reading a script. “Ok I will arrange it, but are you fine”, I said on the phone.

“Yes, I am fine, some minor injuries, and thank you Riya, thank you so much, bye”, said Rajeev.

I was again amazed by Nishant’s Psychic powers and shocked by Rajeev’s incident as well. What happened, asked Nishant. Initially I thought of lying, but he is a psychic after all and maybe he already knows about the incident, I said to myself.

“It was Rajeev, he met with an accident” I said.

“Is he fine, I will meet him in the evening”, said he, and I nodded.
"Why dont you meet him now"  I asked.
"Because right now I want to spend time with you " said he.

I was mostly quiet for the rest of the day. Couple of days passed and Nishant further predicted 2 more incidents. One was that I will get a dog as a gift on my birthday that was round the corner and the other one was that Natasha will be going to New Zealand for further studies.

………………….....................................................................................................................................

With the chirping of birds I woke up in the morning. After getting ready I came to my balcony and saw Nishant standing on the corner of the street, he looked tensed. I called him up but he didn’t pick my call. I went down to meet him and the moment he saw me coming towards him, he behaved in a weird way and started walking in the opposite direction. I didn’t knew what was he up to, I was confused so I started running towards him, something was wrong I thought.

“What’s the matter” I shouted. “Nothing” he replied.

“Tell me what is it, first you stand outside my house and now you are ignoring me, what is it”, I cried. “What if… what would you do if I say that this is the last day of my life and this is the last time you will see me” said Nishant.

I didn’t knew how to react in this situation and asked him to stop if it’s a bad joke or prank.

“I won’t make up to tomorrow evening, I am going to die and I want to live the last day of my life with you” said he.

“I refuse to believe this, I …. this cant be possible” I said in a shivering tone. His silence assured me that what he said is true. I looked up at the sky to control my tears from falling but still couple of them dropped of my eyes which he wiped off with his fingers. I hugged him and said “yes, I will be with you to make your day special”.

It started raining, I kissed him and said “I love you”.

“I love you too” he said.

“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier”, I said in a crying tone.

“I was afraid, if you didn’t have the same feelings for me then it would have ruined our relationship” said he.

I was bewildered because I didn’t know whether to be happy for getting the love of my life or to cry after the truth that he is going to die. My mind was restless, I didn’t want to believe in what Nishant said but his predictions were accurate so far.

He kissed me and grabbed me in his arms, my world was finally mine. This was certainly the best moment of my life which was encircled by mixed emotions. For the rest of the day we were together sitting on the green matted grass where I kept my head on his shoulder, sobbing most of the time. Later in the evening he dropped me home, this was the last time I am seeing him, I thought. We didn’t talk much this day but our silence spoke more than words. We said bye to each other and then I went back home running. I couldn’t sleep at night so I called Nishant, and we talked till early morning.

…………………………………………………………………………………….................................

After I woke up late in the morning, I called him again but he didn’t pick up my call. Natasha came to my place and she seemed extremely happy.

“I am Going to New Zealand baby” said she in a cheerful tone.

 “I know, I am happy for you” I said with a sadistic expression.

 “But It doesn’t looks like that you are happy” said she.

“I am happy for you, but not with my life, after what happened to Nishant” I said.

“I am sorry Riya, I should have told you this earlier” said she. I gave him a question mark expression, because I wasn’t sure what she was talking about.

 “Nishant is not a psychic, I told him that I am going to New Zealand, before I could tell you. Rajeev also never met with an accident. Nishant made up this story to prove that he is psychic” said Natasha.

“Why would he do that”, I shouted in frustration.

“I think he just wanted to take a risk free step to propose you” said she.

“Propose me, its me who proposed that liar”, I shouted. “And I thought he is going to die, I have been crying for him all night”, I further added.

"I will never forgive him for doing this" I said.

“You can either hate him for breaking your trust, or you can be happy that the love of your life is going to live, the choice is yours” said Natasha as she left. Every word she said made sense but before I could have given thought towards it, Nishant called me. I disconnected the call. He called again, so I picked up the call.

“You lied to me, I hate you. You said that you trust me the most but the truth is that you broke my trust. I could never imagine you doing such a thing, I hate you. Don’t call me again”, I cried in one breath and disconnected the call. I broke into tears but soon recalled myself. I was happy that he is not going to die but extremely angry for what he did. He tried calling me for couple of days but I didn’t answer.  

………………………………………………………………………....................................................

It was 27^th October my birthday, I got calls from my friends and relatives. I was waiting for Nishant to call me today, even though I was angry at him. May be he gave up on me, I thought. But one thing was for sure that I wouldn’t call him. At 7pm in the evening my doorbell rang and when I opened the door, there was a nicely wrapped box on the floor with a hole on top of it. Something was moving inside the box, so I opened it with curiosity. There was a cute little snow-white colored pup inside the box. I long wanted to adopt a dog and here it was. The cute dog brought smile on my face. At that moment I thought that Nishant did predicted this incident as well. Tied to the neck strap of the dog there was a letter.

“I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness but I need it. I have loved you for ages but I didn’t have courage to say it to you. So I came up with this idea to know that weather you love me or not. I am not a psychic, but yes my last prediction was true. This is not just a dog but my token of love for you. If you don’t love me anymore then please do give your love and affection to this dog, but if you do love me then please pick up my call”.

Nishant

As soon as I ended up reading this letter my phone rang. I thought for a while and answered his call but I didn’t utter a word.

“Riya I am sorry and I love you. I know what I did was wrong, but I wanted to know what’s running on your mind” said he.

“Couldn’t you have thought of some other idea. How stupid I am, psychic, and I believed you. I believed you because I love you. Promise me that you won’t break my trust anymore” I said.

“I promise” said he and the tears of joy fell from my eyes.

I went downstairs and hugged him. It was an evening to remember where I got my love back along with his precious token of love. We named the dog – PSYCHO.

***