WHAT IS THERE IN A KURMA

The crowd in the large waiting hall was trying to divert their agony for the unusual late arrivals on both up and down directions. 

Most people attached earplugs to their sets were either talking  or listening music, a group was playing “tinpatti” and a family occupying the center table was hogging critically.

The eldest of them with  a B-sharp female voice defeating the blare of announcements in the waiting hall told her accompanying mates  “This cannot certainly be Korma but only a well cooked mutton curry, Kiron what do you say?”  

Kiron “ Ji Mummy ji, they tried to make a white base from white seeds, coconut milk and saunf( fennel seeds). OH! It is so hot, too much chilies. The look and taste both are bad.” 

This   family occupying the center table could not finish their critic session as  the arrival of their train with platform No. was announced. Simultaneously, the loudspeaker blared the further delay of an hour for our train.

“Our train” means in the waiting hall I made new friends; Dr. Sharma, Prof of history and Nikhil kapoor executive chef in a restaurant of a Five star hotel  waiting for the same train in the same compartment.

 We were enjoying the session of the critics in the center table. As the group left, Nikhil who also ordered lunch from a friend’s restaurant went to wash room to freshen up and I was wondering about the criticisms on Korma.

I said in a low voice “Professor Saab, what is so great about Korma? Why people liking it are so orthodox about the culinary of Korma?”

In his baritone voice, he said, “Well I do not know why people are so orthodox,   the name Korma originated from the Turkish Kavurma, meaning cooked meat.”

I said “Then why they were so critical about it?”

Prof. replied “No comments but as far as I know, Korma a hot favorite of Mogul emperors underwent a fusion of Persian and Indian cooking. The interesting thing is that most likely the Rajput cooks who accompanied Empress Jodhabai were the architects of fusion. They modified the original Persian cooking by introducing braising. In Urdu, Korma means braising. Alternatively it is also said that Rajasthani cooks named it after a Rajasthani tribe Kurma.”

We heard a husky female voice “Professor Saab, very interesting. Pardon me for overhearing your discussions but I could not resist.”

This lady occupying a bench near the windows and covering her face with a big handkerchief was asleep but it appeared not so.

Meanwhile Nikhil came back from the washroom with a fresh appearance and at the same time people from his friend’s kitchen brought our lunch and placed  the hotpots on the center table.

It seems that the lady and Nikhil knew each other. He said, “Well mam! What a surprise and good luck to see you here.”

 He introduced her to us. She is Shyama, hosts Cuisine serials in no. of TV channels and also author of few culinary books.

Nikhil said,“It shall be our pleasure to share our lunch with you. Please do not say you just had lunch or do not wish to have food right now. This food is from Jolly’s kitchen, promoted by you and you know better than us he always gives plenty.”

Smilingly she said “Difficult to say no to you. I had a heavy breakfast. I shall give you company more on the discussions and less on food.”

 Previous train has swept away the waiting crowd; the big upper class waiting hall has few passengers now. We four occupied the center table, Nikhil already signaled a person from Jolly’s kitchen to serve.

“Except me, this is quite a panel of discussion on Korma. My first attempt to cook is very pitiable.”

Shyama said, “Let’s hear that, a good cue to resume.”

I said in a hesitated voice, “As a beginner, I thought it would be simple to cook Khichdi, but at the end of the hour long sweat-bath, the net result was even far away from hopeless. I tried but could eat a little and  dumped the entire handi outside before a waiting dog, but...”

I was about to gulp a little water, Prof Sharma said “ “What happened?”

“The dog was about to release his long tongue, but suspended the action, barked at the heap of Khitdi and went back to curling.”

There was a joint laughter but consoling me at the end Nikhil said “Sir, It could be due to turmeric.”

I said “Turmeric? Oh Yes! That was the only spice I was supposed to add.”

Shyama said “Perhaps, you added a little more, a reason you yourself tried but could take a little.”

Nikhil said “Dogs seldom like the smell of turmeric.”

Prof Sharma “The smell in the food counts a lot. Aroma excites the saliva.”

Shyama said “Exactly. In Korma, braising matures the marinated meat to blend with white saucy base made from the paste of Almond, Cashew, white seeds, Khuskhus, curd, cardamom and finally release an unique aroma and taste.”

I was gulping those words but stumbled badly at “braising”. Nikhil rescued me and said “to braise, cook the marinated meat at first with a high heat to the extent of light frying. Now turn the heat gradually to low flame, add the liquid paste of grinded Khus khus, cardamom, white seed, Kaju, Khowa with warm water and seal the pot with wet dough.  The rest of the cooking is done using the moist heat.”

Shyama said “Oh hoi! Stop here. You are disclosing the entire trade secret.”

Nikhil said, “Nothing remains secret in these days of you tube and TV cuisine coaching classes.”

Prof Sharma Said “Korma was warmly welcomed in all parts of India and in each state this recipe has its own variations as per popular taste.”

Nikhil said “Sir even in North India besides veg. and Non-veg. Korma, there are three major types, the Sahi, Mughlai and Kashmiri. However from North to south the braising is common. Only the ingredients of White sauce vary.  In Kashmiri korma the raw white sauce is made from thick milk, Almond, cashew, Pista, Akhrot and Saffron. South Indians make their white sauce from fresh coconut, coconut milk, white seeds, Chilies and Fennel seeds. But everywhere the flavor is unbeatable.”

The announcer interrupted us with the arrival of our train. Getting to his feet Prof. Sharma said “Yes the aroma that remains the same.Because this is one India and my India is great.”

Democrats and the Tea cups

                       Democrats and the Tea cups

Departure of Duronto from Howrah was postponed by two hours but I was not bored. Som Basu, an old friend of mine, co-passenger of Duronto in the same compartment nearly pulled me to a tea-shop within walking distance.

Initially I was reluctant to go but later on found this as a unique experience not to be missed.  This shop is unlike any other tea shop, more of a Tea parlor than a so-called tea-shop.

Basu visits here frequently and suggested to take seat in the two sitter small table just behind the big nine sitter big table. He said that we can nicely spend our time here by listening to others and by enjoying the wide variety of tea and snacks.

He assured “Sip your tea and eavesdrop on the debates from the adjoining tables. I bet, these  Chai-pe-Charchas   are much more interesting and decent than most of the TV news-traders shows.”

As soon as our order of a big pot of Darjeeling tea arrived, another waiter ushered a small group of three persons to the central nine-seater table and whispered something.

The eldest of the three nodded approvingly and ordered cutting tea and Pakoda.

My friend knew them briefly from his previous sessions of eavesdropping. He continued, “They are a small group, from various walks of life, profession, and age. But almost every evening they sit here for tea and chit chat.”

A waiter was pointing at the nine-sitter table to three young men and spotting them the elderly man said, “Here comes the ‘Ab ke bar’, ‘Mody’ ,‘Sarkar’ ”

My friend whispered “The extreme left one is Akbar, but they call him ‘ab ke bar’ ; a lawyer, the middle one, ‘Mody’ owns a grocery shop; flanked by a freelance journalist, ‘Sarkar’.”

“We were stranded by the election campaign procession for the tomorrow’s Maidan rally.”

Sarkar said, “Once I asked about thousand such people at random. A little over twenty percent were party-loyals. The rest either came to see Kolkata with free train ride or were forced to join.”

Mody said, “These strength-showing big meetings deceive the common people to think that this party has huge supporters.”

The elderly said, “Many times we behave like the herd of sheep. We see where others are going and follow that. We do not ask even a single follower why to vote for the candidate or party he is voting for.”

Finishing his tea, Akbar (Aab ki Bar) said, “Tell me, why these election campaign meetings are necessary? If a Party’s community development work has benefited people then people know about it.”

 Sarkar said “Does it mean that despite the beneficiary actions made by the Party or the candidate, so many people were either ignorant or could not taste the benefits?”

A person by the side of the elderly man said, “Have all of you noticed the minimum requirements for a person to stand as M.P or MLA? The person should be of minimum 25 years of age without any criminal background or under trial cases.”

Mody said, “Election Commission never even asks the candidates to show any proven past or current record of  any social works.”

The elderly man said, “Funnily enough, the eligibility rules do not debar a candidate who is not even in the Voter list of the area.”

Media man Sarkar said, “I have attended many such election meetings and rallies like the tomorrow’s one in Maidan. Two-third of their speech remains engaged with criticism of the opposition party or the candidate from that party, the rest is full of promises in future tense but nothing about what already they did.”

Elderly man said, “If election commission can debar a candidate with criminal record, then why not for a candidate without any experience in public service. How can we entrust such a person to represent us who is just a famous singer or actor or a dedicated to the Political party but has no track record of service to public.”

Mody said, “There are MPs or MLAs who do not even attend the sessions of Parliament or Assembly. They are seldom seen in their constituency after wining in the election.”

Sarkar Said, “Clearly, these persons have gone to Parliament not to serve the people but to satisfy their greed for money and power. EC should ban these candidates from re-contesting. Once this is done then only a person dedicated to the service of people would go to Parliament and the entire dirty scenario shall change.”

Elderly man signaled the waiter for one more round of tea and we overheard from another table “The wheel is now rolling. The heat of corruption is too much on common public and they wont tolerate this anymore.”

A baritone voice said, “The cleaning action by broom has just started. May be at present, persons leading such movements are green in politics and tact.”

His friend sipping tea at the opposite table said, “ This Jharu movement is a bright child with teething troubles. Moment the teeth come out properly then all these corrupt people are bound to bear the deep biting scars. Janta maaf nahi karegi inko.”

With hurried steps we were about to reach Platform Nine of Howrah station. Small groups surrounding tea stalls were having sips of tea and suggesting each other the best time for poling. They were trying to optimize the two constraints “long queue” and “heat.”

Unlike yesteryear s, more and more people are determined to cast their vote and nobody can glare their eyes with false promises. Democracy is now close to “by the people, for the people and of the people.”   

Jatra- the unforgotten pride of Bengal

               Jatra- the unforgotten pride of Bengal       

The tall fair man stepping down the stairs from his studio is Dilip Babu, the doyen of Jatra industry of Bengal. Through a mutual friend, he agreed to meet me at his residence.

The housekeeper ushered me to a sofa set at the corner and looked at the big grandfather clock, said, “He would come down in another few minutes for having tea with you.”  

I could hear clearly even from this sitting hall, his baritone voice reciting from famous scene of Jatra “Karna-Kunti sambad.”

 Age failed to erode   the resonating bass of the voice that still could mesmerize thousands of audience surrounding the podium open on all four sides.

Jatra   is the popular folk theater form of Bengali theater spread throughout the Bengali speaking areas of India and similar to Tamasha of Maharashtra.

These drama groups travel from one performing place to another.   

The musicians, playing the background music to heighten the overall dramatic effect of the performances, sit on two sides of the stage and perform jointly playing Dholok, pakhwaj, harmonium, tabla, flute, Violin etc.

In most of the Jatras there is a common character Vivek (conscience), who in between the play, comments on the action of actors and their consequences.

We became friends before the tea arrived and who said Dilip babu was full of ego? 

Dilip babu said, “I understand, you have some queries on Jatra for your upcoming novel. But let me tell you, my answers shall be on the basis of whatever I overheard and learned through my thirty years involvement in Jatra”

“That shall be great for me. Bookish knowledge is always less than practical knowledge. I want to know what made the Jatra so different from the popular form of Theater.”

“You see, Jatra has its roots in the deep core of rural Bengal. The villagers while ploughing, fishing, boat rowing etc. keep on singing in individual typical tune. It could be to inspire and or entertain the teammates.

These popular lyrical performances formed the very basis of Jatra. Unlike the Theater, although this is not dance-drama but dance and songs appear frequently and relevantly but never as a filler in between the play. In fact, most of the important parts of the drama the dialogues are lyrical and go up and down as per the required scale of the tune.  Good Jatra artists are   mostly born mediocre singers but still take lessons in classical singings besides learning basics of Jatra acting.”

I said “Dilip da, Jatra is now on the wane of popularity. Why So?”

I knew by asking this daring question, I might be thrown out. His eyes glared for a moment but instead of saying "OUT" asked me

“How do you say so?”

“The crowds of Nayeks on   Rathjatra day are gradually reducing. In rural areas, the Jatra arrangers even by push selling, expect to get at the best only two thirds responses that too for   the most hit Palas (dramas) of the year”

There was a Phone call. He looked at the call number and said, “Excuse me for few minutes. Have one more cup of tea.”

I avoided saying another rather rude point. That time was almost the peak of Jatra season. Even five years back, it would have been difficult for the top Jatra artist like him to chat with me even at the onsite green room of Jatra.

In 2001, there were more than 200 companies (now reduced to 58 only) in Chitpore of Kolkata employing about 20,000 people. The “Adhikaries (owner/director) in their “Gaddis” (office) were always busy talking with Nayeks (booking agents) and sorting out an optimized   date suitable for both. The opening day of bookings was Rathjatra (Chariot festival of Lord Jagannath in June) and by evening of that day, almost cent percent of the best time slots were booked by the Nayeks arriving from all corners of Bengali speaking areas of India.

This year although the active Jatra companies are only fifty-eight, even on the Rathjatra day the booking response was nowhere near the figure of even five years back.

Dilip babu returned with a tall glass of brown color liquid. The smell of the liquid was sufficient to guess that he was neither drinking black tea nor cold drink but Rum.

As he offered me one and as soon as I shook my head, he immediately poured from that glass to refill his glass.

He apparently looked disturbed. I overheard just then he was angry with someone on the last phone call for cancellation of a show.

“Yes, what the Nayeks told you for the present status of Jatra?”

I said, “I hear not only from them but also from the villages where I moved for the subsurface ground water exploration. People in general are saying that Jatra is limping before TV serials and just released pirated movies from the internet available at the comfort of home.”

His baritone voice barked, “That is half the truth. Few years back, in the name of modernization most of the new owners of Jatra brought the TV and/or Film actors with Xerox copies of the scripts of serials and films along with light and sound effects. There were few initial successes, but ultimately audience rejected them.

These people neglected the basic format of Jatra. The audience surrounds all four sides open podium at the centre. Acting requires voice throwing synchronized with the   body movement such that audience facing the actors from front, sideways and back gets equal opportunity to be connected with the actors. The scripts copied from cinema or TV serial based on another format of acting could not match. The actors from these industries failed to act in the style of Jatra.”

I said, “That’s what I heard. People told me that they came to see Jatra, not a TV serial or film. They can see that at the comfort of the home and why unnecessary pay money for ticket.”

He gulped his remaining rum and said, “Years before, there were sponsors like Tea garden owners, Miners, village chiefs for the Jatra shows and the entry was free. But now people have to pay a lot.  So surely they want to see Jatra but not a poor remake of Tv serial or cinema.” 

I bravely asked, “What do you think can make Jatra revive.”

He thought for a while and said, “Just get me one Script writer and lyricist like Brojen Dey or Vairav Gangly. This industry has still now veterans like us and young dedicated talents who can still make Jatra back to its Golden days.”

I said “Gate crash crowd of audience…”

Before I could complete he said, “ Not only that,  After our performance, the dialogues and the songs would move from lips to lips of common people. That is the success and our pleasure. A Jatra artist does not hanker for money like those migratory birds of TV and Cinema who ruined this industry.”

Leaving his house, at a crowded traffic junction, some one’s car radio was playing the Famous “Sonai Dighi” of Brojen Dey. Even if the signals, turned amber, like me, many of the people at the wheels listening to the Jatra forgot to switch on the engine. Brojen babu can still make the Jatra to come back to it’s golden days. Jatra is yet the unforgotten drama pride of Bengal   

NAMESAKE

                                             NAMESAKE

I used to think that we waste our time, energy  and debate so much to give a name to a newborn until I met a scholarly and philosopher person Sharma Ji, who compelled me to think otherwise.

He told me “Why we drop our letters only in the postbox? Does the addressee stay there? Because we believe that this is the beginning of the process of reaching the letter to the addressee. ”

I said “I do not get you. What that has got to do with the name of a person.”

With his usual calmness Sharma ji said, "The body is the casing of a soul. Every soul when born is assigned a trajectory path by the Almighty. The name is just like the convention one follows in naming a file; also it is the codified form of that assigned trajectory which the Almighty conveys deep in the subconscious minds of the persons who start thinking to assign a name. In a way, Naming is the beginning of the mission for which a soul assumes a physical shape.”

I still had doubts and asked him “I can show you here more than Five Yudhistirs who are known liars and if some day a light breeze may blow away my driver Hercules, I won’t be surprised.”

With smiles in his face he said “our bank is diametrically opposite to the main market.  Many times from our camp, instead of taking left turn towards market, we turn right towards bank. Because if we do not get money from the bank we cannot do our assigned task of Marketing. If you remember Ramayana, Ratanakar and Valmiki are the names of same person. So if the name appears to be a misnomer, wait and see.”

We had a day long discussion and debate and he told me that a name might be valid for the   literal meaning or it could be a combination of a (latent or active) supernatural vibration and the former. Also as the life advances, a person may get some other name or names. He said” If you do not get a direct bus to Raipur, You take some other means or bus to Jagdalpur and from there you board other bus to reach Raipur.”  

I was so much convinced that on return to my camp,  opened the brown pages of boyhood day’s diary about the names of our brothers and sisters.

My grandma gave the name to all of us along with a ceremony. All these names are in some way are also the names of things  for daily Puja of Devi Durga.

 Long before, we were known as a royal family. Devi Durga is our presiding deity at the ancestral Village home. My brothers and sisters are named by Grandma  as  Sonkho( Conch),  Alpana( Rongoli) and my name is Pradip; this is the main big Deepak consisting of many Deepaks attached to big brass stand. During Maha-arati when it is lighted all other lights except the Diyas near the goddess were put off.

I am quite baffled here. Although brought up in a very religious environment, I am never an orthodox Hindu. I believe very seriously that worshiping can be done by closing or opening your hands or by touching your heart or by any other way. I never think that my way of worshipping God is the best and others are to be put off.

In my profession,  to be a successful geologist you have to listen and give equal importance of other’s views besides your own view. 

I asked Sharmaji about my doubts and he smiled,"Just think of it for some more time, you will get the answer.” I could not get it from him, as one day he suddenly left us  forever.

 My team rediscovered some Iron ore deposits, and some small mine developed copper mineralization and finally a regional discovery of a big deposit of Nickel in Indonesia. I was awarded Ph.D for my research work for a method improvement and mathematical modeling of ore reserve estimation.

I do not know if all these could put some dim light like a small Diya. If so, then I am happy for my name and If Sharmaji was around, I could have told him so.

I was happy with my name till a  friend of my late father told me something, which I did not know before.

My father was a rational man and he disliked any religious bias. When I was born, he was in the Police training college as he got his long waited promotion. He knew that my naming would be made by his mother (Grandma) with a religious bias.

He was an ardent fan of Film star Pradip Kumar   and became very happy when I was named as Pradip.(Kumar, as per our family system is common to all boys but not Kumari to girls.) However our parents   never told any of us about this angle of my name.  

strangely, I was very much active in debates, speech competition and drama from school to college life and some part of my service life in Baildilla(in Chhatisgarh, near Dantewada) and Mossabani. I was more inclined in writing script and to another hobby; writing lyrics of songs.

Except few directors, I do not see films at all and I never saw any film of Pradip Kumar although I heard he was a great actor. Sadly, in my family nobody neither   discouraged nor encouraged my stage performances. One of my bosom friend,  a very successful actress, Film director and editor of a Magazine, requested me to write scripts for her TV serials but I could not make it.

I remember only faintly, once my father told me if I ever wanted to translate my dream into reality he would stand by it. I could not follow that he wanted me to be a Film actor. However he believed in personal freedom and I did what I wanted to do.
 I only disliked this part of my name just for this sake. This part of Namesake shall ever remain with me as a sad shake.
(This is an entry to 7 th edition of Indispire of indiblogger.in)

Burpees, the great calorie Burner.

                      

 Burppe is a four-step high intensity full body exercise programme in which   almost all the muscles of the body work out at once by burning a lot of calorie in a very short time.

The four steps are a combination of a

·       SQUAT

·       PUSH-UP

·       A SECOND SQUAT

·       A LEAP IN THE AIR

These are repeated as per the requirement and physical limitation of the individual. Extreme athletes, elite Military forces, football, and ruby players regularly include them in their workout routines for the quick and effective benefits. All of them include it in their regular exercise for excellent physical fitness and reflex power of the muscles. 

Why Burpees?

1.   They burn mega calories

 Burpees burn up 50% more fat than moderate exercise because it is an intense full body exercise.

2.   They make the body stronger than other exercise

This is full body strength training and the ultimate example of functional fitness making you to work up your arms, chest, quads, and hamstrings.

3.   They’re great for conditioning and endurance

    4. Burpees can be added to almost any workout

    5. They’re portable and require no equipment

Basic Burpee:

To perform basic Burpees, the simple steps are:

Begin in a squat position, with hands on the floor in front of you.

Kick your feet back to a push-up position.

Immediately return your feet to the squat position.

Leap up as high as possible from the squat position.

( source: downloaded from internet)

These steps are repeated in quick succession to get the maximum benefits. When performing Burpees, the success key is to perform them in quick succession in order to get the conditioning benefits this exercise is famous for.

Besides the basic Burpees, there are few other tested variations for best results.

·       Burpee with push-up. This is normal  burpee , but after kicking  out the  feet to a push-up position,  a full push up. Is done rapidly.

·       Burpee with dive-bomber push-up. Instead of just doing a full push-up,  a dive bomber push-up is made.

·       Burpee with Pull-up. Stand underneath a pull-up bar or tree branch that is high enough so that one has to leap to reach it. Perform a Burpee normally, but at the time of leap up grab the bar and perform a pull-up.

 

Burpees are for everyone, because Burpees help every person to scorch fat, rev up metabolism and get the body conditioned which no other exercise can do. 

Burpees burn 563 calories to 745 calories per hour between the weight ranges of 155 to 205 ponds.

While Burpees burn up the excess fat, trim the body and give the desired fitness and endurance, one must consult a dietitian for a proper diet and follow it strictly for persistent trouble free long-term results.

In my profession of mineral exploration from junior to senior-most geologists require to move in the realms of tough terrains and a good amount of physical fitness. We found Burpee very much useful.

DUEL OF DUAL SOULS

                             Duel of dual souls

Last fortnight, an yet to be diagnosed, sudden attack breathlessness restricted me to keep away from the usual Friday evening  activities as prelude of the funs of the following two long rest days.

Friends call me  as captain cool and like many other bitter at the beginning incidents of life, I rather welcomed it.  I am seldom disheartened at anything  like even if I knew Rina is now gyrating with someone else  in the Disco of Friday club.
  Right then, I was busy testing my self-made latest Trans receiver set and enjoying the drizzle that made a concert on the corrugated transparent part of the rooftop of my apartment,

I earn my bread as design engineer in instrumentation but playing with radio transmission and receiving,   from self-made small but powerful trans-receivers, is my passion.

I hear funny sounds, which are possibly echoes of the simulated radio signals from my own transmitter, but sometimes I doubt. Do I possibly hear the radio signals from someone else also?

Just before my illness, I finished the design and construction of thyristor driven IC panel but could not test the synchronization of the panel with tuner amplifier.

The receiver was working smoothly. Keeping the radio on, I pressed the transmitter switch and started checking both transmission and receiving powers of the signals with the addition of the thyristor IC panel. The VHF was O.k. and I turned on the UVHF part and gradually increased the frequency.

Just at the mid-value of the frequency range, excitements and surprises happened one after another.

Usually I hear only funny incoherent sounds but this time, a sweet melodious symphony of violin and Piano   filled up the room, followed by strange things one after another.

The curtains started vibrating, flowers in the vases started blossoming, an empty glass tumbler slowly moved from corner to center of the side table and then the light became dim yellow.

I heard a faint incoherent voice and increased the bass and tone for clear hearing.

 In the beginning, I was amused guessing it a work of some crack person to scare me. Within a spilt second, the sequel of happenings proved me wrong.

To detect the transmission source, I should have connected the set to the computer. However, by mistake, I actually connected it to the LED projector. However, It was a mistake worth making.

I saw faint elliptical cluster of shadows on the wall facing opposite to me. The shadows gradually formed three concentric circles with rectangular patches infilling the gaps between the circles. The sweet melodious voice resumed and kept me glued and attentive.

I heard clearly, “Spare a little time, it shall benefit you only.” A pause for few minutes followed this.

Oh! That’s it! A marketing campaign, possibly religious or real estate selling promotion was inside a cloak of stunt but possibly wastage of enviable talent for such purpose. However, the magnetic voice compelled me to hear further. However, I did few things to see and hear this campaign sort of thing repeatedly.

Keeping the projector undisturbed, I connected the transmission to computer and kept the Video recorder on for complete recording. The processor would take no time to detect the transmission source.

The feminine voice resumed, “You have a dual soul inside you. One is almost dying and another is waking up from dormant to active stage.”

I looked up at the computer screen; it was busy analyzing the source, which compelled me  to hear this “Mata ji” for some time more.

Controlling my laughter, I made my voice as serious as possible and said, “Why at all I had two souls, active and dormant?”

“The fetus in the mother’s womb starts vibrating with the rhythms of life when soul saturated with cosmic energy enters. In your case, instead of single, two souls of opposite sex battled with each other to occupy the fetus. The male soul kept the female dormant and developed organs and hormones for his pleasures from the body. Now the male soul in your body is dying. This is the reason of your recent Non-diagnosed illness. The female soul shall now take over and very rapidly develop organs and hormones for her requirement.”

I asked, “What shall happen to me?”

The voice said, “Your face shall change and overall you shall look like a female.”

I almost shouted, “Oh! No! Why shall I suffer for the duel of the souls?”  I did a mistake in crying like that.

 Either the wicked person is enjoying the fun or if she happens to be a cheater, this is the time to strike the nail, the time to speak for remedies and make money.

 However, surprising me, the transmission of the wicked terminated.

I did not notice, my computer defeated my main purpose of hearing all these non-sense. After several attempts, it finally failed to locate the source of transmission.

I tried vainly to distract my mind by listening music and watching TV.  I started my   computer to look into a recent  software for office work but after sometime, I started digging a graphics package, which can draw the various changes of the same face as you desire.

Rounding the sharp corners of my face, it appeared to have a feminine look and appeared quite a good-looking face.

As I got up in morning and went to the washroom for a shave and bath, I was about to shout but controlled myself. I might not need a shave anymore.

This morning, I was wondering where from so much hairs came to my bedroom.   As I undressed, I got the answer. Well! Even after nightlong work by my soul, it is still a work under construction.

Leaving my head portion, someone as if removed neatly all most all the hairs from my body and made my skin   soft and smooth. However, breasts need a little lift to be full and my genital is almost extinct.

      On Sunday, my doctor called me, they found out a secondary cause of my recent illness i.e.sudden   activation of Progesterone and Estrogen, two female hormones in my body and heavy damages of male hormone Testosterone. My male genitals might work partially but if I so wish a small incision could make an effective female genital. I solicited an appointment of pre-surgery.

     on  Monday morning, at the traffic island, a bike along with a female pillion rider stopped by my side. As the signal turned green, the biker sped through like an arrow from a bow. However, before crossing my car, he whistled at me approvingly and I liked it. The Pillion rider was unmistakably Rina, she looked back at me angrily. Men will be after all men only and Girls! I am beginning to know.

Hide and Seek

Rohan, a school going child has many non human friends and he can converse with them. One of such friend, the school-bus took him and all other school mates to a forest to enjoy the carnival and sports event of the inmates of the forest. However, the guardians and the teachers of the children trace them in the midst of the carnival and took them back.  The disappeared school bus was granted a shelter in the forest by the King of Forest Shri Modhusudan who is also a friend of Rohan- his Modhu dada.

Strange things would happen today and what a fool I am. I could not follow the advanced information of it as told by Modhu Dada or from the chirping of the Morning birds.

It hit my mind as our school bus instead of crossing the bridge on the river took U turn and moved towards the bumpy meandering road of the reserve forest.

Except me, all other schoolmates in the bus panicked and screamed “Has the Driver become crazy?”

“The steering, brake nothing is working. The bus has become crazy.” The driver and cleaner ran out from the cabin and shouted at us to jump out from the slow moving bus. They did not wait for us and slid from the bus one by one.

Our school bus continued its slow but steady movement in the forest road. By then all my school mates stopped panicking and got the smell of funny things ahead.

 We saw the fat bus driver skidded and fell on the ground. His tummy appeared like a live hairy hillock heaving up and down.

The baboons from the trees on either side of the forest road giggled and roars of laughter from us encouraged them to continue further.

Our bus also joined us in the laughter and then broke the long silence to me.

Normally we greet each other everyday as I ride on the bus but today we both forgot. He frequently used to tell me that he got bored in plying from going and coming from the school daily and want to get rid of it. We also feel none the less but dared to do anything.

Believe me, all objects around us talk in their language and they understand and talk our language. With few days’ effort, all of you can understand their languages easily.

Our school bus said “Rohan, are you afraid or enjoying my actions”

“We all are enjoying buddy but what are your plans?

“Soon I am going to stop just near the bank of the river.  Your fun world is just there and waiting for you.”

The bus stopped on a flat ground just near the bank of the river. Some of my school mates were scared to spot few bears hiding in the bush.

We saw a big black bear came out from the bush with two leaf cones in his hand,

“Hey friends, Welcome to our forest. Come out! The bees sent these two leafy cones full with fresh honey to all of you.’

My friends saw me to embrace the senior bear and they all came out from the school bus and snatched the Leaf-cones from my hand.

I was surprised to hear the fluent but with a different accent Hindi that the entire Beer family can speak. However, we all could follow their Hindi nicely.

The family of bears ushered us to a big banyan tree and we all sat comfortably under the cool shed.

 The senior bear told “We are glad to have you on our festival day. Soon our king shall arrive to inaugurate the day long sports and carnival. Although he is visible to those who love and believe him but for today all can see him”

One of my friend said in a trembling voice “Shall all the animals of forest take part in the sports? Are there any ferocious and dangerous animal?”

The senior bear frowned and said “Not animal, better call friend instead. This is King Modhusudan’s area and nobody can be dangerous or ferocious. Due to his blessings, all our friends understand and speak each other’s language including yours also. For your kind information, our big cat friend’s family lives on milk donated by Bison friends.”

One of us said in a hushed voice,

“Big cat means Tiger.”

Everyone forbade “Shhhh! Shhhh!”

 My heart thumped and hair’s raised on hearing the name of King Modhusudan. My Modhu Dada is   also not visible to all.

Once I missed my way from the tutor’s residence to my house. It was getting dark and soon I started weeping. Someone, a little elder to me and with a flute in his hand wiped my tears and showed the path to house. He told me “I am your friend. Call me whenever you want me to help you.”

I looked at him, his honey colored complexion, a friendly ever smiling sweet face with thick jet black curly hairs on his head was very soothing to look at.

 I   said “Your voice is so sweet and may I call you Modhu Dada?”

“Yes please.”

Since then, he meets me whenever and wherever I call him or need his help and nobody can object to his presence because none can see him or hear our talks, not even the whispers between us.

 Our friends of the forest started arriving. The Members of Monkey and bear family were the volunteers of the carnival and they arranged everything for the guests as well as the participants of the sports.

 Various types of birds started landing from the sky followed by squirrels and monkeys through their tree route and the herds of Bison, impala and Jackal from various parts of the forest.

A snob Tiger family arrived with fresh creamy milk smeared on their face but it appeared that other friends of the forest might take more time to accept them.

The Elephants were the last to come and we heard from the whispers of our new friends of the forest that this time the Elephants got the chance to become the official carrier of King Modhusudan.

A family of Parrots opted to look for us and in fluent Hindi they were telling us the various events of sports.  The participants may take part in any game but it must be out of their comfort zone. Impalas can not take part in long jump or race, they and elephants may compete with each other in swimming.

Our class monitor laughed and pointing towards the chubbiest boy in our class said, “Include his name in the Swimming.”. There was a roar of laughter but the head parrot cautioned us.

“The yellow birds spotted the Tusker carrying Our King. Today the King is visible to all, he wishes so.”

Within minutes, Yellow colored birds came down at bush height and a sweet melody from flute filled the entire big field. All said in their hushed tone “He is coming, the King is coming”

A Tusker appeared at a long distance flanked by baby elephants on either side. The flute player was on the Tusker back.

The Tusker stopped in front of us, the King of Forest got down and all my schoolmates saw him clearly.

In his royal dress; a light yellow royal gown with gold embossing and a gold headgear with Peacock feather on the top, he was looking little different but the smile on his honey colored  face with flute in his hand, he was none but the same Modhu dada.

The volunteers were about to usher him towards the small hillock type podium but looking at us he shook his head and said

“I shall better be with my new friends”. The monkeys immediately tied few cane sticks with the hanging roots of the banyan tree and made a cradle for him.

The bear and Monkey heads approached him to inaugurate the sports and Carnival. Modhu Dada said

“We shall begin with the dance item. Tell everybody to prepare for the community dance.”

Modhu Dada looked at us and said “I shall play few dance tunes but how many of you can accompany me with supporting music”

Nitish Said “We shall manage. but right here….”

Modhu Dada said “Tell me what you need”

“We need dholok, big drums, bongo, guitars and accordion”

“And here they are, just pick them up, possibly they are tuned also. Anyway have a look.”

He played a tune and we quickly tuned up our musical instruments. It was quite a team,

As soon as we started, the peacocks hopped in and started a Chhou with a loud applause from the entire audience.

The squirrels could not sit anymore on the tree tops but joined the peacocks with jumping up and down matching with the tune.

The chain reaction started first in the group of impalas followed by the bison and the tiger family leaving their respective places and joining the dance arena. Finally, the Herd of Elephants standing at the outermost of the ellipsoid gathering, joined and the tremors were none the less than earthquakes.

Now the entire community started dancing raising their limbs up and down and continuously chanting “Hey Modhusudan! Modhusudan!”

Modhu Dada from the beginning remained at the center playing his flute with tunes after tunes.

The pleasure we got erased our all nagging, boring and ruthless monotonous daily routines and the immense joy filled our mind and we did not know when we also like others started dancing and chanting raising our hands.

We heard heavy shouting from a crowd approaching us. We recognized these anxious voices calling us are from our Parents, Teachers and also our Principal madam.  So much of human voice scared our friends of forest. Modhu dada raised his hand and with a smile forbade them to worry.

Pointing to us he told them “Let these kids go back to their worried teachers and parents. We shall continue here but shall be invisible to all of them.”

Our school bus stared weeping and said” Hey Modhusudan! Save me from them. My owner shall tow me to garage and there the mechanics shall torture me for today’s behavior.”

Our parents and teachers located and hurriedly reached to us. Most of Our Guardians, our Principal Madam, some of our teachers along with the school bus staff came.

Seeing us unhurt, they were relieved. Our Principal Madam said “From a long distance, we were hearing the calls of many wild animals. Thank god all of you were safe.” Raising her voice she rebuked the Bus staff, 

“You people better replace that bus. I don’t want that bus again.”

“Yes Mam. But that bus disappeared, we are trying to locate it. Perhaps, it has gone down the gorge.”

“That’s your headache, we are leaving right now.’

We checked our smiles as we knew where the Bus is. Our guardians ushered us to a brand new bus. We were both sad and happy.

We were sad because we won’t be able to see our Bus friend and happy because Modhu Dada has allotted a new location for him. From now onward, down the gorge, our Monkey friends shall have a good place to play hide and seek game. This bus has many places to hide, no one else knows better than us.