Phantom limb pain

Yes we know about it

But ever heard of phantom ring pain?

It’s the pain you feel 

When you have lost the ring 

That you were wearing 

From a very long time

That has left marks on your finger

And your fingers still feels that it is there

Basking lazily in the sun, he was content-fully savoring the lunch he had just had. Today, it was mutton day at the Dhaba, and he had finished chewing the bones till the last pieces. Now it was time for a peaceful nap.

It was the same routine everyday. His family of four brothers and their ailing mother would gather around the Dhaba during lunchtime, and would fill their stomach with whatever food they could lay their hands upon. Most of the time, they had to fight among themselves for small morsels. After all, there is no “WE” in “FOOD”.

It was only few months back when they were born wet, naked and hungry. Subsequently things got worse. Somedays were better than others, like today, when all of them had a fair share of the delicacies of the Dhaba.

Though he was lying and waiting for his forty winks, his ears were prick alert for any suspicious activity in the surrounding. He was the youngest of the four, but nevertheless, he felt his responsibility towards his family. No sooner has he let his guard down, he heard the footsteps of an unwanted intruder across the ditch. It was the black bully, who came to terrorize him and his brothers everyday. But he was determined to fight back today.

It was not the size of the dog in the fight that matters; what matters was the size of the fight in the dog. With all his might he rose from his slumber, and chased the intruder with gritted teeth, occasionally few barks escaping his tiny mouth. His barks alerted his brothers and all of them followed him, in the same demeanor; their combined barks resonating in the air. He led his battalion towards the other side of the ditch, where the protagonist stood, aware of what to do.

He lunged forward across the ditch towards the bully, but due to his small physique, suddenly, he slipped into the ditch and fell below. Momentarily, his brothers were dumfounded and an eerie silence followed. However, he didn’t lose hope, and continued barking from the ditch below. Seeing his perseverance, his brothers renewed their efforts at shooing away the black bully.

Where there is unity, there is always victory. The bully was no match for their unified stand, and had to retreat. The brothers rejoiced in their first triumph, and he joined in their celebration from the ditch below.

Now he had to get up from this trench.

At a distance, he could see a low lying area, to which he could jump. He ran at full gear towards the spot and with one mighty jump of the small legs, he reach the top. It’s not the size that matters, but the will that does. His mother was waiting for him at the top, and as soon as he reached, she licked the dirt off him and lovingly nuzzled him. Victory is sweeter when augmented with mother’s love. 

In my dreamy night today

Saw a mysterious hill in front

A hill full of treasures

Treasures that I must hunt

I started climbing uphill

Beginning with a slow pace

I always looked up, never down

Except for tying my shoelace

As I climbed higher the steep

Struggling out of breath, I thought

Patience and Persistence

To attain success, we need a lot

I carried on my quest

To find the hidden riches

To discover the lost magic

Of the wizards and the witches

As I reached the hilltop

I was welcomed by the scene

The best view comes after the hardest climb

Now I knew what that mean

I entered a new world there

The dream of the sky came true

Timeless dragons whooshing in the wind

It was magnificent, I’m telling you

Circling the top like a mystical halo

Flapping and gliding their generous wings

Oh, so large a wing span they had

More than three times of that of a Boeing’s

Their scales so shiny, reflecting God’s light

Their fiery breaths and flames that roared

Always guarding the treasures of the hill

Flying where no others have soared

Then I saw a sleeping dragon

Lying few feet away from me

Mesmerized by the grandeur-ish sight

I bent down on one knee

The sleeping beauty snoozed by

Leaving smoky trails in each exhale

I yearn to touch her magic

To feel & caress her scales

I flexed my hand to reach her

But my instincts declined

Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

Flashed through my mind

I slowly back traced my steps

Feeling deflated and denied

Where is the treasure I was promised

“It was all a lie”, I cried

Clouds parted, more light entered earth

God’s voice boomed across the sky

“Don’t be afraid when I push you over the edge

Trust me, I’ll teach you to fly”

You are the treasure that you seek

Always feel blessed beyond measure

It isn’t about finding one,

It is about creating your own treasure.

Cherish the waves, cherish the sky

Cherish each helping hand you receive

Cherish the moments passing by

Cherish every day you live

Relish the dreams you dreamt of

Feel the perfection of your imperfections

Appreciate the way you sparkle

Value all your personal affections

At the end of the day, at the end of your life

Just see how many treasures you have collected

And how many treasures you have left for others

To cherish after you’ve departed

I woke up from my dreamy land

With goosebumps all over my skin

But somewhere in my heart I felt

A new zeal for life has crept in

With a new spring in my stride

I set at the crack of dawn

To create more treasures while I can

And to leave some after I’m gone

She had always wanted to do this. Since the day she had started looking at the flashy magazines in her grandma’s home when she was 5 years old. She had dream about becoming a writer. During her school and college days she had wrote numerous answers in her exams, various project reports, and some love letters, trying to perfect everything always. But her dream of becoming a writer had never start materializing. She was too scared of the first draft. She was terrified of the internal perfectionist self-editor.

Now, after 28 years, she realized, it is okay to vomit. To put it all out in the paper. To create a mess with words. No need to wait to write perfectly. Yes, she can vomit now. Afterwards she can clean it up.