uma's blog: THE NEED TO PROTECT TEMPLE PONDS

uma's blog: THE NEED TO PROTECT TEMPLE PONDS: The Temples in India were having Temple ponds. It was kept and protected as a source of water. previously, there were no wate...

THE NEED TO PROTECT TEMPLE PONDS

               The Temples in India were having Temple ponds. It was kept and protected as a source of water. previously, there were no water connection in the houses. so people used to bath in these ponds. Bathing in ponds was a nice exercise. The fishes grown in these ponds also helped to get rid of mosquitoes as these fishes fed on wrigglers of mosquitoes. The next use of these ponds was the medicinal plants that often grows in the banks of these ponds. Now these ponds are in the edge of extinction. It was mostly due to encroachment. The places near to these ponds are occupied by encroaches and all the wastes are dumped into the ponds. The next reason is negligence. Nobody wants these ponds. These ponds are the remains of our tradition and culture so don't neglect them

short story

MY LITTLE ANGEL

            It was a tough day for Sona. The shooting schedule was tight; she also has a ramp show the next week. She was a busy model and actress. Sona pressed the calling bell; door was opened by her maid. She came in exhausted; suddenly the voice of television was heard. It was Emily her daughter, Sona’s annoyed voice was heard suddenly. “Why are you here to disturb every body, can’t you stay in the boarding itself”. Emily replied fearfully; “it’s summer vacation mom”. Sona walked away with anger in her face.

         Rajam was working as Sona’s maid for about 8 years. She was appointed to look after Emily. Rajam was not surprised to see the anger of Sona towards Emily she knows the reason, Sona was an unmarried mother. She got Emily as a result of a rape. Sona was born in a very poor family, when she was one year her father left her and her mother alone and married another woman. The reason for that was Sona’s mother was an unfaithful wife. She was a very beautiful call girl in the city, Sona’s father married her by promising a real life but she was unable to live the life of a normal woman.

          After 15 years, her mother married a man who was a fruit seller. He was a drunkard and womanizer; he came home only after getting drunk. One day Sona’s mother was not at home. Her stepfather came home after drunk, he raped his little stepdaughter. Innocent Sona was not having the development of mind to know what happened to her. Sona became pregnant but her mother knew about it very late. Emily was born. Sona hated Emily but was not willing to abandon her. She planned to take revenge by keeping Emily with her. She never give lactation to baby Emily, baby was fed with supplements. Sona and Emily were given shelter by a poor fund organization.

            Sona was a clever student and also showed talent in dance. She started to do modeling in her college days and got a chance for acting in movies. After great fame and money Sona got her own home. She shifted to her new home with Emily after Emily’s second birthday. Rajam was working as a maid in the poor fund organization, she came for taking care of little Emily. Emily is now ten years. Sona is in love with Najib. He was an upcoming film director. Najib knew about Sona’s past and was not bothered about it. Little Emily led a lonely and abandoned life, Sona never loved or cared for her.

 

             Emily now came home due to her summer vacation. She was not allowed to stay in boarding as the school was closed. She was not at all interested to stay with Sona. Emily envied the mothers of her friends; her mind was having an extreme desire for a mother’s love. She always dreamed Sona stroking her hair with love and care, giving her goodnight kisses, serving dinner for her, hugging her tightly during sleep, But little Emily kept her dreams in her own world. Emily spend her vacations alone in the house, Rajam was the only company for her. She loved and cared Emily as her own daughter.

           Emily was lucky in one thing; Sona gave her everything except love. She presented Emily with dresses and chocolates whenever she came home, but she never selected her daughter’s things. Rajam was in charge of these jobs. One day Emily was sitting in her room watching television. She was wearing a long white frock which was purchased by Rajam for her last birthday. Suddenly she heard the front door opening, it was Najib and Sona along with some of Najib’s friends. Rajam was on leave, she went to visit her relatives in her native place. Usually Najib used to spend his night with Sona on several occasions; Emily hated and was afraid of Najib for unknown reasons. On that day a party was going on, Sona and Najib got married on the following day at the sub registrar office. A detail reception was to be given on next month but a small party was arranged for close friends of Najib.

         It was a grant party. Sona used to drink on parties organized by Najib. That night she had a couple of vodka. At last she lost her consciousness and went to bed with Najib in a euphoric condition. The next day she woke up very late, Najib was not there. The calling bell was ringing continuously, she opened the door. It was Rajam, she came inside and asked for Emily. She replied without showing much interest that she is in her room. Rajam entered the kitchen and prepared tea. She took a cup of tea for Sona and went to Emily’s room. Sona started to sip the tea slowly; suddenly she was shocked to hear Rajam screaming. Sona ran to Emily’s room, she saw little Emily lying unconscious on the floor. There was not even a single piece of cloth on her body, her pubic area was covered with blood, there was wounds caused by struggle all over her body. There was a deep wound on her forehead; there was blood on the floor. Sona rushed towards her, she took the jug of water from Emily’s room and poured it on Emily’s face. Emily was still unconscious. Rajam phoned for the ambulance.

       Emily was hospitalized; she was gangbanged and tortured severely. Her condition was critical. Sona was having severe feeling of being guilty in Emily’s condition, Rajam asked Sona to take care of the news of Emily’s condition from the hospital, or otherwise the media people will create menace. Sona met the doctor and told the matter, Sona was weeping the whole day. Emily was struggling for her life, Sona waited in the hospital by neglecting food and sleep praying for her daughter. She was burning with the guilty feeling. Emily’s condition improved, Sona was eager to see Emily but was unable to face her. Sona was informed by the doctor that Emily should be given the best care for overcoming her mental agonies. After discharge Sona took Emily home, after reaching home she heard from her friends that Najib had enquired about her.

          She went to meet Najib, he was acting as if nothing had happened. Sona slapped Najib and informed him that their relationships had ended. She came back to home and went to Emily’s room. She was sitting absent minded in her bed. Sona asked Rajam whether she had her food. Rajam replied that she refused to take even water. Sona slowly sat on Emily’s bed, Emily was not at all bothered about Sona’s presence.

“Dear shall we have our breakfast together”, Sona asked Emily.

                Emily didn’t respond. Sona held Emily’s hands, suddenly Emily started to sob. She threw away Sona’s hands and ran towards Rajam. Sona felt deeply hurt. She began to find more free time for caring Emily. One day Rajam asked Sona, “Emily is going to be nine. It is the time for a girl to grow up, it is better to consult a doctor as this incident happened to her. Sona was shocked to hear that, she took Emily for a consultation. The doctor told that her fear is meaningless. Emily will not suffer further for the sin done by others. Sona began to be closer to Emily, she realized the fact that she never hated Emily but really loved her and she can’t bear if Emily suffers. Sona had to part Emily for a few days as a part of her work. On the following days she remembered that she had burned Emily’s favorite frock which she was wearing on that hatred day. She purchased a similar frock for Emily. When Sona reached home Emily was in the prayer room, Sona had her bath and went to the prayer room. She spends the prayer time by listening to the prayer song sung by Emily.

           Emily went to her room after dinner, Sona was waiting for her. She handled Emily the gifts she had brought for her. She told Emily that she can sleep in her room if she is afraid, but Emily refused strongly. Emily’s vacation was over, Sona saw Emily packing her belongings.

 “Dear I will enquire in the topmost school in our city regarding your admission, so that you can stay here”

“I don’t want to stay here”, Emily replied softly.

After returning back to the boarding, Emily rarely came to spend vacations with Sona. Years flew like flying birds. Emily is now working as a doctor; a marriage proposal came for her. She informed about her bitter experience, the boy didn’t go back. Emily was married to Nelson who was a business man. Sona was afraid whether Emily will forgive her or not, so she didn’t attend her marriage. Rajam blessed Emily in place of Sona.

  Sona went away from everybody with a heavy heart. One day while she was preparing her lunch somebody knocked the door, it was Nelson. From him Sona came to knew that Emily is pregnant, she was very happy to hear that. But her happiness didn’t last long.  Emily was suffering from mental depression; doctor advised the only treatment for this is the presence of her mother. Sona at once went to see Emily; Emily fell to Sona’s feet on seeing her. She was weeping bitterly. Sona cared Emily by all means. Sona waited impatiently outside the labor room. A cute boy was born to Emily, that night emily told Sona that she came to know about Sona’s childhood only after Rajam revealed it to her. The baby started to cry, Sona felt like baby Emily crying when she refused to give breast milk. She at once removed Emily’s top, the baby started to suckle, Emily closed her eyes. Sona kissed Emily on her forehead and hugged her close.