Oh, My Darling, Where's your Mummy ?

         

(http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/anhinga-bird-everglades)

Sitting in front of the River

Siting in front of the river,
his eternal look bespeaks of his creator.
In the backdrop of the rough canvas,
on a leafless bough it perches.
finding his perpetual, niche forever.

His everlasting stay.
the parlour of  my home.
Looking for whom ?
His painter in the capital city
or the one who bought him for thousand rupees ?

A thought of the brain
of a poor painter.
Sold for a few rupees 
to burn the kitchen fires.
Glory versus family!
Suitable for a headline 
in a weekend newspaper



How can I forget the look 
he gave when the bargain was done ?
Yet, will his fame give his son
a pair of tennis shoes
or tuition fees for elder one ?
At least a sustegen for his 
wife with a cancer ? 

<a href="gimannivannie.blogspot.com"</a>

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The Cobra

                            


                        

                             I inserted the key; opened the door and entered the house which was lonely and dark. All  the family members leave home early except me and it is my duty to lock the doors and windows of the house before leaving for school. 

The scorching sun has drained my energy while walking from the main road and I was exhausted when I reached home.Using the last drops of  strength I opened the door; dropped myself on the settee making my body comfortable as much as I could, while throwing my hand bag onto the chair next to me. I could not cope with the work load at school and lately had become quick tempered and flew into a rage even with a slightest provoke.

            I closed my eyes and let my mind blank for a while enjoying the oblivion I felt though temporarily.

                               

               It was not easy to rest when you think of work remained to be done.With a weary body and mind I made myself stood up and my legs did the rest for me.

                             My husband is a very neat and tidy fellow and he couldn't bear my cluttering the whole house.So I was careful not to arouse his temper by throwing my hand bag on the settee; my saree on the bed and my high heels under the chair.

                     I took my hand bag to my bed room which was dark. my usual procedure was first to open the window next to the bed and keep my hand bag on it and then remove my saree and change into a very old but comfortable, loose dress. That day also I began to do the same routine. I open the window by keeping one knee on the bed while stretching my right hand to unlock the window.While I was fumbling to find the lock in the window in the dark room, I noticed something near my knee on the bed.It slightly moved.Before deciding what to do, my reflexes drew me out of the bed and I came running to the parlour, screaming. Unfortunately only the front door was open and nobody could hear me. I stood in the middle of the room unable to comprehend what happened. I slowly tried to recollect what I saw and it suddenly dawned on me that it was a silhuette of a snake I saw there. 

                                                  I tried to recollect whether I had left something on the bed while I was getting ready for school in the morning  but unable to think of any. 

              My mind was in a turmoil. How could a snake lie on my bed? How did it come?  Though it may seem foolish now, I couldn't resist the urge to have another look at the bed to see whether the snake was still there. I cautiously parted the curtain and took a tiny peek. Alas! The snake was still there in the same position with its half raised head. I observed it for a few minutes to see whether it was moving but unable to see any stirring other than that peculiar and  slight bobbing of the head.

               I wanted to call for help but scared to leave lest the snake may hide somewhere and would bite me later. I wanted to monitor its movements and knew I had to deal with the situation without any help.Again I peeked through the curtain but the snake hadn't changed its position. A doubt came to my mind. It is unusual for any snake to remain in the same position when it hears sounds and I thought of a plan to test it. 

               I took the broom and with full of dread in my heart, tiptoed to the room and  very slowly and cautiously nudged the tail of the snake with the end of the broom.Yet it didn't move but raised its head again.Strange, I thought.I closely observed it again  but couldn't see any action and then I became bold. This is not the usual behaviour of any animal. When they sense danger, they try to leave the place.I should have brought a torch and every thing would be solved then and there, but my scary mind  didn't allow me to think rationally at that time. without opening the window I couldn't see it properly and I decided to take my second bold action.

                           My heart was beating heavily in my rib cage and my mouth was dry but I felt obsessive to do it.I knelt on the bed while the snake was lying close to my knee and with shaking fingers opened the window; quickly jumped away from the bed and ran to the parlour. I expected the snake to leave the room through the open gap of the window and waited but when I took another peek it was still there.                 

                                       I lost my temper. I was weary after a strenuous day at school and here I  had to deal with a silly snake which does not leave my bed when it has all the places in the world  to rest.I took the broom again and keeping a comfortable distance to run if an emergency occurs,  hit hard the snake on its head .My blow was very hard and the snake fell on the floor.I expected to see its wreathing body moving  and raised the broom to attack it  a second time but there was  no resistance except the  same nodding  of the head.

                              Then only the truth dawned on me. This time I took a good, close look at the snake and saw it was made of rubber. I was very angry with myself for being so foolish to engage in a silly fight with a rubber snake. I picked it up and with all my strength threw it from the window with a full force, releasing my tension at the same time. 

                                 Later that day I found out that my husband had purposely planned everything and the result was something he expected for.

                        I was very angry and ashamed and  thought of  taking the revenge  for my humiliation but I never got the chance to do it.

Wish you all a Merry Christmas !

                                                                  (Thanks Marie!)

                       I wish you all my blog friends a peaceful and a happy Christmas.

                             Whether you are a Buddhist, a Hindu or a Muslim, may you be able to help another family and see the joy it brings to their eyes.                              

Are You One of These?

   FORLORN

The coffin lay
on the tiled floor
of the crematorium.
forlorn and withered

The lace and silk
adorns the body
pale and peeling like parchment.

Husband is at home
keeping company
to a lonely house.

No use crying over
spilt milk.
Life must go on
as it used to be.

Son and daughter
sit far from her
eagerly waiting
to finish things over.

Mourners observe time
to go home
to resume their work
 half done.

All wait
for a close relative to come.

A car door opens.
A man gets out and
hurries to the coffin.


 Mutters a few
 comforting words
to the son, standing.

The hot fire
embraces the woman!
A sigh of relief


from the son!
Now he can resume
 his thesis writing!

The cockroach;the book lover

   

(Thanks go to the art teacher in my school for the drawing of the cockroach)

It was a long awaited journey; my going to the annual book fair.I have been going there for around ten years. I used to go there with my son and we made it a point not to miss it at any cost. It was more than buying books.  I was able to enjoy freely with my son for a full day without listening to husband's complaints of leaving home unattended for a whole day.He  shied away from these kind of trips as he has no interest on books. (he reads but never buys!) Both my son and I enjoyed the food at the book fair, we bought books; he-computer books and I ; hunting Arthur.C.Clarke's and Issac Asimov's  books which are not  easily found on the other days.

                              We chatted while enjoying an ice-cream and observed others who had come to the exhibition from all over Sri-Lanka.It was like a  huge party thrown by an invisible person making us bound together  by the humanity and the recreational activities.

                         But as time went by my son got busy with his exams and  he could not accommodate my requests to accompany me with my roamings to the big capital.

                    Yet, I continued my roamings to the book fair as usual and  enjoyed them to the fullest.I walked among the crowd with my gunny bag and other bags slung over my shoulders and touched books, read pages,memorized designs, recipes and sometimes even drawings when the book was too expensive for me.

                         I felt naughty when I noticed that a salesman came to stand near me pretending to select books and keeping a close look on what I was doing.Then I would purposely linger there more to make the poor man uncomfortable and letting him puzzle over  my unusual behaviour, with that particular book in my hand.

             So, I went to the exhibition this year too. Yes.Alone.I went to EXPOGRAPHIC first.It is my favourite book shop.Many science fictions were there and I read the reviews on the back page and selected a few books. Books went into the gunny bag which hung on my shoulder.
            Then I remembered an Ad on T.V. and went to an IT stall, looking for a software which is used  to read books on I pad.  The place was not crowded and there were two cute girls in the reception.
          "Yes, Madam, What can we do for you" ?

                                I explained them what I needed.Then while I was talking, my back tingled with a slight sensation.I ignored it and paid attention to the girl who was very keen on explaining their new product.

                  The second time I sensed that the thing I felt on my back was something alive! It moved very,very,very  slowly on my neck and my hair stood at end.I wanted to scream and wriggle my body to drop the thing but my conscience warned me to behave cautiously in the presence of an audience.I gritted my teeth and tested my patience to the last drop scarcely paying attention to the girl who gibbered near me.Unfortunately the thing moved a  little bit up along my neck and all my sanity was lost to reason. 

                                    I frantically dropped my gunny bag to the floor, shook my body with full force to drop the evil thing while  letting out a long drawn scream making people freeze.As soon as my scream was over I heard another similar scream and then I saw it was  coming from  one of the two  girls.  

                                             The girl was wiping something, plunging her hand in the deep  cleavage in her blouse and I could see her face distorted with fright.She continued to scream with a shrilly voice  calling every one's attention to the scene.It was like a behaviour of a madwoman.She was trying to take something out in her blouse but it seemed that her efforts were futile for all the screaming and running .Unaware of the audience her wail collected, she held the two  edges of the front of her blouse in  two hands and shook it frantically to drop something while giving a wild dance to the rhythm of her fluctuated cry, remembering me  an African Tribal dance I have seen in Discovery Channel many years ago.I thought that all the limbs in her body would come loose to that vigorous shake but luckily it didn't happen. 

                                Unexpectedly the girl stopped her wild dance in the middle of the climax and ran  to an inner room in the stall crying,  but  a  small brown lump lay helplessly on the floor. It slowly stretched  its tiny limbs and tried to walk shakily as it too was overwhelmed by the incidents it had to face few minutes ago.

                    It was a tiny cockroach!

The others in the room were more concerned of the girl as the gathering mainly consisted of her co-workers and people who ran other stalls in the book-fair.The crowd dispersed with different emotions on their faces; some exciting as she had given them a free entertainment which is rare in any book fair and some others genuinely sorry for their friend for the discomfort and embarrassment she underwent in public.


                               But I was more concerned with the object on the floor because my mind argued it was my doing at last. My heart was scolding me for  being the cause of this commotion and letting an innocent girl, how silly her behaviour was, to be ridiculed by others.

                              I just stood there while observing others' behaviour and once made sure that they have resumed work, slowly took  a few steps close to that object and gave a little push from the tip of my shoe. It lost its orientation and took few circles on the floor but crept under the carpet as promising me not to disturb others in the future.

                                     Then and there I stopped my inquiry on the software and I even lost the desire to buy more books or to stay further in the exhibition and left the place with misgiving thoughts.

                         I think that the cockroach was in my gunny bag  as  it was sitting in my cupboard  for some time without being used. When I carried it, slung on my shoulders it must have crept up to my back and you know the rest. 
                                            It was unintended but I should have been more careful of  my paraphernalia.Whenever I remember that incident I regret for my  crime  in the book fair.

                   What will be your verdict, fellas?

The Treasure of Four Crowns and me

              I can't exactly remember when I watched it.It was either in late 1980 s or early 1990 s. Anyhow what matters to me is not the year but the experience.

           My husband and I went to a film but the film we intended to watch was gone before the due date as it could not attract enough audience for a good income for the theatre owner. At that time we rarely watched films as it was very difficult to find time to be alone as I had to devote my entire time after coming home from work for my little kid, my grasshopper.                     

             So whenever I wanted to have a little pleasure away from my hectic life I planned it carefully  and this time it was to watch a very famous,classical Sinhala film. I was highly frustrated to see that it was gone and  thought of returning  home.but my hubby was against it."We have already come to the theatre. Let's watch the new movie in the theatre and see how it is." He said.                                           

                                      When we entered, the ticket counter and the surrounding area was jam packed with people.I was still angry for not being able to watch my long awaited film and waited without any interest while my husband went to buy tickets.                

               He returned with tickets but there was something else in his hands. When I threw a questioning look into his eyes, he shrugged his shoulders and meekly muttered"These were given together with the tickets ."                 

               They were two pairs of celluloid  glasses the kids wear when they play house.I was furious.                    

                       "Couldn't you tell them that our eye sight was normal as to watch the film without these ridiculous glasses?"              

                   "Don't shout. When the tickets are bought, each was given a pair of this. I think it is needed in the theatre."      

 "What nonsense." Throw that away!I am not going to wear it in the film hall."    

                    "O.K. O.K.  Let's not argue here. All are looking at us.Let's go inside and see what is happening."        

                         Finally I went with him and sat under a fan. I closely observed others.Some were looking at the glasses  while some others had already worn them and waiting  for the film to start.Then the third bell rang and the lights went out.       

                        In the dark I watched others' behaviour. They were intently looking at the screen.I stole a glance at my hubby. He also had worn the glasses and watching  the screen.I was angry for being made to wear this silly childish glasses and strongly decided not to wear them.                      

                                The story began but alas! Everything was a blur.  I heard the music and misty shadows moving on the screen but that's all.I squinted my eyes and tried my best to see what was on the screen but apart from the background music, I could not see anything else. I felt desperate and  looked around. My hubby too was watching the film.                

  I nudged him.How could he enjoy the film when his better half was feeling so uncomfortable?              

      He  looked at me and indicated me to wear the silly glasses and turned his attention back to the screen completely ignoring my plight in the dark.  I was outraged and pinched him tightly in the left arm.The arrogance of the man!   

                         It seemed that I was defeated. There was nothing else to do but to bow down and wear those wretched glasses and I cursed myself for being so foolish to agree to watch any kind of film with that ugly thing on my eyes.       

      What if my students saw me in the theatre now. I would be the laughing stock of the school the next day.              

             " You know machan! Yesterday I went to  a film and guess who I saw there!Miss  M...wearing  a pair of plastic glasses and watching a film!!!!"   

                He.. with them!Behave like a Roman when you are in Rome.  

                         I mustered enough courage to wear the glasses.  At once I was swept of my feet. Few people were running towards me and I waited cautiously until they disappeared. A helicopter started to fly and it came  directly towards me.Without thinking twice I ducked and from the corner of my eye I saw that the man sitting on my right was  doing the same. What the heck!   

                                            I was highly confused and didn't know when I removed the glasses. but when the images again became a blur only I realized I was without them and automatically my hands wore the glasses for me.  

                                       The story was about a treasure. Some people wanted to steal it and they had to face a self-defensive, auto activated mechanism which consisted of  fire balls, turning wheels, shooting arrows and daggers and sliding and disappearing doors and many more.When those mechanisms started to activate at unexpected moments there were many in the audience who ducked, wriggled or turned their heads aside to prevent a blow or an arrow in a futile attempt. I too did the same but when it became clear to me that my heart was going to explode with fright I shut my eyes tight and pretended watching the film but  just listening to the sounds.         

       After a few minutes I felt a whisper in my ear and heard " open your eyes fool!That scene is over."              

           I slowly opened my eyes to see the amused but kind look of my husband. He gave me  an orange and for a moment I had to focus my attention to the orange and my fear was forgotten.     

                     I enjoyed the film to the fullest  but once in a while was careful enough to remove the glasses for a few seconds until the highly intense moments were over.                      

                    During the whole time I was in the theatre I saw many frenzied and peculiar behaviour in the audience as they bent forward or backward  sometimes lifting an arm to avoid a blow aimed at them by the main character in the film.Though you knew that this was just a mere film those sudden reflexes were inevitable and we all succumbed to them in the hall.We, as a family laughed at each other in the hall and were highly amused at our own foolish and childish but unavoidable behaviour because the film was so intense and packed with action.               

                                Anyhow we both enjoyed it and we talked about nothing else for a long time. But once at home I became the victim and when my husband described the incidents in the film  hall my family members doubled with laughter making me red with shame.                     

                    But I have to say it. It was an experience of a life time. I will never forget it. I have never thought of seeing something like that even in my wildest dreams. Though the young generation was fortunate enough to  have  modern technology at their finger tips even the word 'computer' was never heard of at that time.Computers might have existed here but it was zillion miles far from the common man.     

                       The word '3D' became popular in recent years and then one day I suddenly remembered the film we watched many years ago.I  understood the reason why it was necessary to wear glasses to watch the film and how the audience was made to experience the film.I typed the title of the film  in Google and found out more about it.             

         My findings and my intense and  haunting  memories of the film  made this post possible. I hope that I was able to convey the joy and excitement I felt by  watching the film"The Treasure of Four  Crowns"  to you.