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Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:suni51 wrote:epraneeth77...
7 years ago
suni51 wrote:epraneeth77 wrote:It is still the starting stage on international front,...
7 years ago
suni51 replied to the topic Modi a global leader.
Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:suni51 wrote:epraneeth77...
7 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar replied to the topic Conserving nature ...
usha manohar wrote:@ Kalyani , that is really commendable...Even here I see a group of ladies adopting a few plants in their...
7 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar said thank you to usha manohar for his/her reply to the topic Conserving nature ...
@ Kalyani , that is really commendable...Even here I see a group of ladies adopting a few plants in their neighborhood, watering them during summer, and what you say about...
7 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar replied to the topic Modi a global leader.
suni51 wrote:epraneeth77 wrote:It is still the starting stage on international front,...
7 years ago
epraneeth77 wrote:It is still the starting stage on international front, though he has been doing good, it is important that he...
7 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar replied to the topic Random polls - A refreshing change for Boddunan.
Yes, it is a refreshing change and something different. However, I find that it does not change very often. Once you have taken a poll, you should have something new...
7 years ago
usha manohar replied to the topic Random polls - A refreshing change for Boddunan.
I agree that random poll is something that I look.forward to and if t is one that I have not already responded to, I do so ..
7 years ago
usha manohar liked the topic Random polls - A refreshing change for Boddunan.
I have seen that there is a random poll for Boddunan members, indeed that brings a lot of engagement, freshness & more activity on the site from the members, these kind of...
7 years ago
usha manohar replied to the topic Indians constantly blame Pakistan for cross border terrorism but who first started it ?.
MG Singh wrote:Kashmir valley is burning and now terror groups from Pakistan, helped by locals are...
7 years ago
usha manohar said thank you to MG Singh for his/her reply to the topic Indians constantly blame Pakistan for cross border terrorism but who first started it ?.
Kashmir valley is burning and now terror groups from Pakistan, helped by locals are attacking army and police camps. This never happened earlier...
7 years ago
MG Singh created new article Historical Facts on Partition of India and role Gandhi, Patel and Nehru.
India became free on 15th August 1947 and generally Nehru's famous speech "Tryst with Destiny" is often quoted has the high point of his political thought. On the face, it looks rosy but if you take the petals away one will see the thorns.
One nation
India became one nation thanks to the rule of the British who in1757 after winning the famous Battle of Plassey, became the omnipotent power in the subcontinent. They united India as never before and India was the Jewel in the Crown. The Raj stretched from the Khyber Pass to the plains of Assam and deep down to the states of Travancore and Tamilnadu. This was the biggest Empire in Indian history, much bigger than anything that Aurangzeb or Raja Ashok had ever dreamt.
There is no doubt and it has been proved historically that India consisted of nearly 500 small kingdoms. All of them were united and became part of what is called the British Empire. The British left India united but when the time came for them to go away the Indians themselves were not ready to kiss each other and this animosity gave the English a chance to divide the country.
Divisions
With Independence round the corner after the defeat of Hitler, the two major parties the Congress and the Muslim League jostled for power. The Muslim League was headed by Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Congress party headed by self-styled "Mahatma" Mohandas Gandhi. He was assisted by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and personal Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad. The last named was a political lightweight and he was supposed to oppose Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Unfortunately his following consisted of only a few Muslims as almost 90% Muslims were with Jinnah.
Farook opens Hornet's nest
Recently in a program on TV, Farooq Abdullah, the Ex-Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir clearly stated that partition would not have taken place, but it took place because of the attitude of Nehru and Patel. The Muslim League in its Lahore session of 1940 had in a resolution called for the state of Pakistan.
Research papers and a witness to the era Leonard Mosley has stated that Muhammad Ali had only made the demand for Pakistan as a bargaining chip and he wanted to be the Prime Minister of India. Patel and Nehru along with Azad were opposed to Jinnah as prime minister. At this stage in case, the Congress party had accepted Jinnah as Prime minister, partition may not have taken place. Nehru, however, wanted to be the Prime Minister of India and the others also wanted some crumbs of power.
Maulana Azad, in particular, would have been reduced to an outsider as Jinnah had nothing to do with him.
The last days of the Raj
Leonard Mosley in his book "the last days of the Raj" has documented all that happened in the corridors of power. Jinnah had the support of the Muslim League, all Dalits and Scheduled Castes and the Princes. These were members of the Prince's chamber which were a part of parliament. He had a majority and Nehru could not accept this. He and Patel along with Azad met Gandhi and convinced him to accept the demand for Pakistan. Nehru had selfish reasons for this as he wanted Jinnah out of the way and to his mind creating Pakistan was the only way to send Jinnah out of contention as Prime minister of India.Such comments were made by the BJP leader Jaswant Singh in his book "Jinnah, India, and Partition"
Rest is all history as the attitude of Jinnah hardened and Nehru had his way and became PM of India and Gandhi accepted Pakistan. It was his biggest defeat.
7 years ago
MG Singh created new article The Two Nation Theory:is it Relevant Today.
Mohammad Ali Jinnah is regarded as the founder of Pakistan. It is often forgotten that Jinnah started his politics as a secularist and a leader of the Congress Party. He, however, transformed himself into a rabid communalist and coined the slogan "two Nations and two people". He said that Hindus and Muslims cannot live together and are allergic to each other. He said they were two different philosophies and he gives an example that a Muslim eats a cow but the Hindu worships it.
Two nation theory
That famous word "Two Nation theory", thus was coined. The British accepted this Two-Nation theory and decided that an independent Muslim State needs to be carved out for Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. The state Pakistan was created. The state itself was an anomaly as it was separated by 1200 miles of Indian territory. Whereas East Pakistan was mainly Bengali speaking, West Pakistan was mainly Urdu speaking and apart from religion, both of them had nothing in common. In addition because of the great distance between the two parts, there was very little chance of integration between East and West Pakistan.
The Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi stoked the flames of discontent and helped create an independent Bangladesh. In other words, she broke Pakistan into two parts. Many people at the time said that the two nation theory was dead and gone.
The creation of Pakistan and the acceptance of the two Nation theory took place in 1947 and now over 7 decades have passed, yet the question which is in mind of many is whether in the modern context, as far as India is concerned: is the two Nation theory dead?
The political scenario in India
Let us have a look at the political scenario in India. India is home to the second largest Muslim population in the world, in fact, there are more Muslims in India than in Pakistan or Bangladesh. This is a massive minority but as can be seen, the Muslim leadership has not integrated with India The Hindu population also by and large is suspicious of the Muslims and consider them as fifth columns in India. The divide between Hindus and Muslims has not been breached one can just see from the ongoing dispute of the Babri Masjid, which has been simmering for 70 years that there is no sight of a solution, as both communities do not wish to give and take. Muslim leaders like Owaisi, day in and day out bring out that Muslims are separate from Hindus and they do not want to integrate with the nation and want their own personal law and constitutional guarantees of the rights.
The large Muslim minority in India is in real terms acting as a roadblock to the development of the country. Muslims even now in India think of themselves as a separate Nation. Bangladesh me have broken from Pakistan but Indian Muslims still identify with Pakistan. Actually, if you look at history, the concept of Pakistan originated from Bhopal, Lucknow, and Bihar and these States never became part of Pakistan because they were in the heartland of India. The seeds of Pakistan have remained in communities in these areas and given a chance the Muslim community in India would like nothing better than to have a separate Homeland, in other words, a third partitions. On the face, it looks preposterous and many Hindus and some Muslims will join issue with this statement but a closer look at the state of affairs shows that there is no social intercourse between Hindus and Muslims in India. Muslims want their own laws and to be governed by the Sharia and they want separate rights from the Hindus and at every stage, they point out that they are a distinct society.
Two Nation theory not dead
One can safely say that the old two Nation theory is certainly not dead as far as India is concerned. It's very much alive and kicking and men like Iqbal will be happy in their graves to know that Hindus and Muslims are in fact two separate Nations. Many point to the fact that Hindus and Muslims have lived together for 1000 years. However, people miss a very subtle point and that is that both the communities lived together when the Muslims were the rulers, though the Hindus were in the majority.
If such a scenario is replicated that once again the Muslims become the rulers of India, then only are the Muslims ready to consider India as one Nation. What is the solution for this? I am afraid there is no solution as the Hindu by his very nature is the weak as well as a pacifist and he will go to any length to try and a placate the Muslims in the hope that they will accept India as one nation. It's not going to happen and over the decades the differences between Hindus and Muslims instead of going down have accentuated.
7 years ago
MG Singh created new article Zimbabwe health minister complains Chinese Condoms too small for Africans.
China has made long strides in the field of manufacture and industry to military power. It has also developed deep pockets. China has a lot of surplus cash to donate to needy countries. It is hard to reconcile that in 1948, not even a bicycle was made in China but now it has even launched a Spaceman into Orbit around the earth. China is also manufacturing utility items and items that help in birth control and prevention of disease. China manufactures condoms which are distributed all over the world.
Zimbabwe and AIDS
WHO and UNAIDS have bought hundreds of thousands of condoms from China for distribution in Africa. One of the countries where China has sent condoms is Zimbabwe. This country forms part of South Eastern Africa and is in dire need of healthcare. It is one of the countries which is beset by AIDS. As per WHO almost 13.5% of the population is HIV positive. This is a huge number and the sad news is that 40000 new cases are coming up every year. It is also known that a condom is the best defense against the spread of sexually related diseases. The population in Zimbabwe is greatly infected because of unprotected sex.
Condoms and AIDS
Condoms address a vital necessity in Zimbabwe but unfortunately, the physical structure of the African Negro is much bigger than the Chinese race. The Chinese have been manufacturing condoms generally keeping their size mind. It has been pointed out by African men that the Chinese made condoms are too small. At a function in Harare on AIDS awareness, the Zimbabwe Health Minister made a public announcement that condoms manufactured in China are "too small" for Zimbabwe men. He expressed the view that it would be better, in case the condoms are manufactured in Zimbabwe itself. This view of the health minister of Zimbabwe is echoed in South Africa by the Health Minister also, who has said that Chinese made condoms do not fit the African male.
The human race which evolved over a billion years has a different structure in size and weight all over the world. The Chinese come under the Oriental race and are basically smaller in size than the African Negro race. it stands to reason that the penis of the Chinese men would be smaller than the African men. This is a reason that the Chinese made condoms are proving to be too small for the African men.
Chinese condoms
The Chinese are a dedicated and versatile people and they have taken note of the criticism by the Zimbabwe Health Minister. They have accordingly started a study regarding the size of the condoms for the African men. The chief of the Chinese manufacturing company has said that China will send a fresh lot of condoms for African men.
Tribal culture
Zimbabwe for long was a Colony of the United Kingdom. it was earlier known as Rhodesia after the great explorer Cecil Rhodes. After gaining Independence from England the local African leadership changed the name to Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, though they changed the name of the country they could not change tribal cultures. This culture accepts something close to free sex and is the main reason for a rapid spread of AIDS in this sub-Saharan country. Zimbabwe has the highest incidence of AIDS outside the sub-Saharan Nations. South Africa also has a high incidence of AIDS. It is generally known that the spread of AIDS virus is not only because of unprotected sex but also because of frequent change of partners. This is part of the tribal culture but it has the flip side that sex-related diseases like AIDS have spread beyond imagination.The condom remains the most effective method to control the spread of AIDS. Researchers have found that the condom is 90% effective in controlling the spread of the disease. India also is very much in the same boat and as per WHO statistics, India has the largest number of AIDS patients in the world. This is certainly not a very happy news
The sub-Saharan group of countries and the Countries Of South Eastern Africa have a high incidence of rape also and this needs to be curtailed. The Muslim countries of North Africa are however relatively free from the scourge of AIDS and rape. The spread of AIDS has been more like a bushfire and during the last 3 decades as per WHO statistics the number of infected patients in East Africa has shot up by 50%.
Future
Zimbabwe would certainly be worried about the spread of the disease and as the condom is the main source of its prevention it is imperative that proper size condoms be made available for African men. It must be understood that tribal culture cannot be changed and the culture of having multiple partners is not going to end. The only source of controlling the disease is to start a massive health education program and convince the African whale to make use of condoms.
7 years ago
MG Singh created new article Why Pakistan Hates India; A look from the Pak side.
I have had the privilege of visiting Pakistan many times, mostly it was in connection with my official work. I must admit that I was always treated with great respect and I had the occasion of befriending many officers of the Pakistan army. These were always friendly talks but it gave me an insight into the Pakistani mind.
After discussion with my Pakistani friends, I was able to get an insight into what Pakistan thinks about India.We should not dismiss their thoughts and opinions as if they are of no consequence. It is vital to understand their psyche and the hurt they feel. Yes, some of it is true.I will briefly summarise the thoughts of the Pakistani vis a vis India.
Firstly, many Pakistani say that in 1943 there was no talk of Pakistan.That talk for Pakistan came after Gandhi and Nehru in a devious manner stopped the installation of Mohammad Ali Jinnah as the Prime Minister of India( this is corroborated by Leonard Moseley in his book "The last days of the Raj") In addition, the failure to give constitutional guarantees to Muslim minority by both Gandhi and Nehru sowed the seeds of Pakistan.Today generally in Pakistani this is cited as an example of discrimination against Muslims.
Secondly, during the 1971 crisis, India actively intervened in Bangladesh to break up Pakistan into two parts( I am afraid this is true). They say the Mukti Bahni on its own could not kill even a chicken. Yet Indian Army officers and soldiers were operating deep inside East Bengal in the guise of Mukti Bahini. When you are crying hoarse that Pakistani supported terrorists are operating in the Kashmir is really meaningless.The fact remains that the country which first started operations inside the territory of Pakistan was India when it sent soldiers inside East Pakistan disguised as Mukti Bahini to attack the Pakistan army and their soldiers at every opportunity.
It was India as per many Pakistani which opened the Pandora's box of cross-border terrorism. Pakistan also feels that it is India which is killing innocent Kashmiri youth and labeling all the killed Kashmiri youth as terrorists coming from Pakistan.This is a total lie. Pakistani also feel Indians are not sincere and they are consumed by hatred of Pakistan and Muslims in particular.
Pakistani view Narendra Modi as a murderer, as a man who got hundreds of Muslims killed during the 2003 riots in Gujarat. I have heard Bilal Bhutto talking on TV and saying that the perception of Pakistan about Modi is that he has blood on his hands. The feeling in Pakistan is that India and particular the RSS have not reconciled to the creation of Pakistan.
Pakistani point out that Sikh's and Hindus live in peace in Pakistan and are protected by constitutional rights. They point out that article 9 of the Pakistan constitution gives guarantees the religious minorities, right to life and property. As per them in India, no such constitutional guarantee exists for Muslims with the result that Hindu Muslim riots are frequent phenomena.
As things stand, I do not think there will be peace with Pakistan because Pakistani want to avenge the creation of East Pakistan. They say their country was broken by India and they will not rest till they pay back India in the same coin.
The old saying that to get a feel of the enemy one must get into his shoes. This is important and it is clear that we DID create Bangladesh and broke Pak into two. How will they forget that?
7 years ago
Kakoli roy created new article Ideas to decor your home entrance lobby.
Entrance of a house is the vital thing that we consider whether it is related to the security or decoration. The entrance of the house can be decorated, few things can be applied that can make your exterior of the house or your entrance lobby more attractive to the outsiders.
Entrance Door
The entrance door of our house is the first thing while any one search to enter the house. The door of the entrance attracts any person, so a special interest should be kept to make the door more grand in appearance. The door can be of any material plywood, laminated door or wooden doors. the wooden doors are believed to be more durable compared to the other material and expensive. The wooden door with its fine textures and the splendid designs on the door give a grand appearance to the people or guests. The Door entrance can be of large width or of small width both have a separate gesture and thus a tactful and innovative designs of the entrance door is all we require. The wooden door are highly preferred due to the durable and attractive designs give your house a stunning look.Choose exceptional colors to paint the door or the pasted textures on the door provide a warm appearance.
Low light plants
Decor your lobby with the low light plants. The plants provides purified air to the atmosphere, along with it improves the view of the entrance lobby. The plants of various sizes involves in a natural look to the lobby. Low light plants require less sunshine to grow which can be kept inside the house and can grow easily. Few indoor plants that looks beautiful and embraces with the gift of nature are money plants, Staghorn Fern,Snake plants, Cactus. These plants requires very less care an grows easily providing more oxygen and decor your lobby.
Sitting arrangements
Improve the entrance look along with the utilities, such as the sofas or chairs which are placed in the lobby. Visitors who can sit and wait for few minutes, the different attractive furniture related to the chairs and sofas are available made of wood, plywood, bamboos placed with the center table. The furniture that are to be placed may be proportionate the floor area of the entrance lobby. The comfortable movement of the people should be kept in mind while you place the sofa or chairs. We should try to give a small sitting area if you have a small lobby and if large you can provide a large sitting area.
7 years ago
MG Singh created new article Sridevi's death and the Mystery Created.
Life is full of ups and downs. It is never a straight line and the same applies to the life of the superstar Sridevi. The death of this actress has shocked the nation and there is no doubt that most of the people who see films in India are affected. Sridevi had a special place because she was a versatile actress and well of course, very beautiful.
Death in Dubai
Unfortunately, she died in Dubai and I have to say that this death is not an open and shut case. Every Indian citizen when he or she dies anywhere and under unnatural circumstances has the right that his or her death is investigated. In the case of Sridevi also there is a need for her death to be investigated. The Dubai authorities have said that there is no foul play. Perhaps they are right but there is a lingering doubt and this must be set at rest
Let us evaluate the news as it was broadcast. Firstly it was announced that Sridevi had died of cardiac arrest. In other words, she had been killed by a heart attack. This news shocked many of her friends including the brother in law Sanjay Kapoor. He said that she never had any heart problem and so I wonder how this news of the cardiac arrest spread subsequently.
Theories
It was again announced that no, she did not die of cardiac arrest but she had drowned by accidentally falling into the bathtub. On the face of it, this is very silly because for a person to die in a bathtub he or she must be so sozzled with a drink that he or she doesn't know what was happening. Now we know that Sridevi never drank hard liquor like whiskey or Gin and all she imbibed occasionally was a glass of wine.
Amar Singh who is a family friend has corroborated this information, so the question that Sridevi was intoxicated or on the high and fell into the bathtub and drowned looks preposterous. The Dubai Coroners office has written in the autopsy report that the actress died of "accidental drowning." How the Coroner reached this conclusion is a mystery. One must remember that the bathtub is not a swimming pool and to drown in just about 2 feet of water is something which is totally unnatural.
Mystery
As I have written Sridevi never drank and yet the autopsy report states she died of accidental drowning and traces of alcohol was found in her blood. The fact that she never drank hard liquor adds to the mystery.
There are many people who suspect foul play and one of the men who has voiced an opinion that Sridevi was murdered is Subramanian Swamy, now a member of the BJP think tank. Subramanian Swamy has said in a taped interview that he is aware of a nexus between the Underworld led by the Don Dawood and Bollywood. He has further added that this nexus maybe the cause of Sridevi's death.
Case of Mrs. Tharoor
This looks preposterous at the moment but one must remember the case of the wife of Shashi Tharoor the Congress member of parliament. His wife had died and it was let out that he had died of an overdose of medical pills. Forensic experts reconstructed the scene of the crime and finally concluded after almost a year that she had been murdered. The Delhi Police are still investigating the case and the murder suspects as yet have not been identified and arrested.
This is just an example to show that what is apparent is not real and what looks likely may not be the ultimate truth. In this case, even the likelihood that she could have drowned in a bathtub when she was healthy and fit is something that cannot be digested. Taslima Sharif, the writer from Bangladesh who has been hounded out from that country by Muslim extremists and is now settled in Delhi has said in a statement that "healthy people do not drown in a bathtub".
This is a very telling statement and there is no doubt that there is a lot of truth in it. Sridevi has now died and she has also been cremated but her husband Boney Kapoor has a lot to answer as many factors in the timeline do not match or gel together.
Last word
The Kapoor family would like the case to be closed so that they can get on with their lives. But everything cannot go on just as required. The police in India needs to have a fresh look and try and come up with a plausible theory. Drowning in a bathtub on one's own is not the correct answer. What, in case somebody ha caught her and pushed her into the tub and held her till she died?
The case must be investigated for the satisfaction of millions of her fans who dot the length and breadth of India.
7 years ago
usha manohar created new article The Mysterious Incident at Akashdeep Estates - Part 5.
The mysterious incident at Akashdeep estates – 5
With so much happening in one day - the long exhausting drive through the winding roads and meeting Shalini had completely drained me because all I remembered was flopping on to my bed , thinking things over for a minute or so after which I must have slept like a log until the early hours of the morning. I was awakened by some sound coming from outside. When I opened my eyes I could see faint day light coming in through the curtains. I opened the curtains wide to let the daylight into the room and what greeted me was simply amazing. I could see acres and acres of coffee estates spread out on the slopes and the little hill beyond . There was mist, sunshine and beauty everywhere I looked . As I bent down and looked I could see the sound had come from the grounds below where several estate workers stood round a table and responded when their names were called. Obviously their day was beginning with a roll call. I looked at the clock and noticed that it was already 6.30 Am. I hurried through my brushing , changed into fresh clothes and went down the stairs.
At Akashdeep estates
I saw Geeta busy in the kitchen , she smiled at me, asking me to sit on the veranda where she would serve the morning coffee. I went out and saw that Mahesh anna and Rohini aunt were already there . Since it was almost dark yesterday evening when we arrived I had not had the opportunity to see either the veranda, which was beautifully furnished with cane furniture and lots of potted plants nor the spectacular view over the garden and the road beyond the sloping, looped circular driveway. The coffee plantation was spread out on either side of the house and the garden. The garden was a riot of colors with flowering plants, bushes, climbers and small trees. It was very beautiful and I could not help but wonder how anybody living in this paradise could feel bored or go into depression ?
As we sipped our coffee Mahesh anna and Rohini aunt discussed about household affairs and then Mahesh anna asked Rohini aunt and me to look after Shalini since he was going to the bank , take care of other jobs connected with the estate as well. Rohini aunt had a funny expression on her face when she responded saying that Shalini was OK some of the times , so not to worry. Mahesh anna looked confused and said that he had not seen her being OK. Rohini aunt did not say anything to that but turned to me and said that we could go down together to the garden and I could walk round the estate and I was more than willing to accompany her. Mahesh anna , as he waked with us towards the garage told me " Enjoy your walk and I promise to take you to the town one of these days". I smiled at him and nodded my head.Mahesh anna I felt was very considerate and affectionate.
He also told me that the small town center which was at a distance of around 4 kms, had 2 banks catering mainly to the coffee estate owners and workers and a post office and two schools. Other than that they had a chemists shop , a couple of restaurants , a general store and a hairdressing saloon. The nearest doctor was located 12 kms away. He said that he should be back for Lunch and we could go through the estate accounts after that if it was alright with me and I immediately agreed since I wanted to start work as soon as possible.
I and Rohini aunt plucked and gathered the flowers , collecting them in the basket she carried . Later as she went into the house , I decided to continue walking down the driveway to the road through which we had come and where we had met the handsome stranger who had made Mahesh anna unhappy , last evening. I went to the gate and stood outside looking at the winding roads and the valley below. It was all too beautiful and I felt as if I had been transported to a different world altogether. I stood there for a long time taking in the scenery and came down to earth when I heard someone calling me. It was Geetha calling me for breakfast.
Unraveling Shalini
Surprisingly Shalini was there at the dining table drinking coffee and she seemed to have come out of her trance , was properly and fashionably dressed , so unlike the previous evening. She began talking to me. I could see Rohini aunt watching her with a sardonic smile on her lips. Shalini wanted to know how long I was going to be here and what exactly Mahesh anna had told me ? I tried my level best not to reveal too much of what Mahesh anna had told me but at the same time managed to satiate her curiosity. I was somehow under the impression that it was she who wanted me to be here. Things were getting more and more curious.
After breakfast I went up to my room and unpacked my clothes and arranged them in the wardrobe and brought down some snacks that my mother and atthe had specially prepared . I gave it to Rohini aunt and Shalini and apologised for having forgotten about it the previous evening. Shalini just waved it away and went out to sit on the verandah but Rohini aunt and Geetha ate some of the sweets and savories and showed their appreciation. Shalini was almost back to her royal self as she sat there on the verandah seemingly without a care in the world. I understood exactly what Rohini aunt had hinted at. I wondered , what kind of game she was playing ? I also felt sorry for Mahesh anna for trusting her blindly. It was almost impossible to unravel Shalini and her game plan.
I went inside to help Geetha and Rohini aunt prepare lunch and when I happened to pass the front door I could see Shalini walking down the driveway towards the road, the same route I had taken in the morning. She was smiling to herself and seemed to be in a different kind of trance just then. For some reason I had a premonition of danger which I brushed away immediately but the feeling persisted with me all through the day.
Lunch was ready and Mahesh anna was back , stil there was no sign of Shalini. The first thing he did was to enquire about Shalini. Both Rohini aunt and I gave our account as to how she seemed normal , that she had gone for a walk down the drivewy towards the road...that for some reason made him very angry.
He said " I asked you both specifically to keep an eye on her and take care of her "
To which Rohini aunt retorted " Is that possible Mahesh ? she is not a child and more importantly does she listen to me or to anyone for that matter ?. she knows and does exactly what she wants, so stop worrying about her "
This made Mahes anna even more angry and he striode away , walking down the driveway to find her.
They both came after a while ,with Mahesh anna holding her hand . Shalini was a changed person altogether , looking downcast , terror stricken like the day before and without looking at any of us went up to her room.. Mahesh anna looked even more worried but did not say anything more and we went in to have lunch.
( To be continued )
7 years ago
suni51 replied to the topic Modi a global leader.
epraneeth77 wrote:It is still the starting stage on international front, though he has been doing good, it is important that he...
7 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:suni51 wrote:epraneeth77...
7 years ago
suni51 wrote:epraneeth77 wrote:It is still the starting stage on international front,...
7 years ago
suni51 replied to the topic Modi a global leader.
Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:suni51 wrote:epraneeth77...
7 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar replied to the topic Conserving nature ...
usha manohar wrote:@ Kalyani , that is really commendable...Even here I see a group of ladies adopting a few plants in their...
7 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar said thank you to usha manohar for his/her reply to the topic Conserving nature ...
@ Kalyani , that is really commendable...Even here I see a group of ladies adopting a few plants in their neighborhood, watering them during summer, and what you say about...
7 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar replied to the topic Modi a global leader.
suni51 wrote:epraneeth77 wrote:It is still the starting stage on international front,...
7 years ago
epraneeth77 wrote:It is still the starting stage on international front, though he has been doing good, it is important that he...
7 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar replied to the topic Random polls - A refreshing change for Boddunan.
Yes, it is a refreshing change and something different. However, I find that it does not change very often. Once you have taken a poll, you should have something new...
7 years ago
usha manohar replied to the topic Random polls - A refreshing change for Boddunan.
I agree that random poll is something that I look.forward to and if t is one that I have not already responded to, I do so ..
7 years ago
usha manohar liked the topic Random polls - A refreshing change for Boddunan.
I have seen that there is a random poll for Boddunan members, indeed that brings a lot of engagement, freshness & more activity on the site from the members, these kind of...
7 years ago
usha manohar replied to the topic Indians constantly blame Pakistan for cross border terrorism but who first started it ?.
MG Singh wrote:Kashmir valley is burning and now terror groups from Pakistan, helped by locals are...
7 years ago
usha manohar said thank you to MG Singh for his/her reply to the topic Indians constantly blame Pakistan for cross border terrorism but who first started it ?.
Kashmir valley is burning and now terror groups from Pakistan, helped by locals are attacking army and police camps. This never happened earlier...
7 years ago
MG Singh created new article Historical Facts on Partition of India and role Gandhi, Patel and Nehru.
India became free on 15th August 1947 and generally Nehru's famous speech "Tryst with Destiny" is often quoted has the high point of his political thought. On the face, it looks rosy but if you take the petals away one will see the thorns.
One nation
India became one nation thanks to the rule of the British who in1757 after winning the famous Battle of Plassey, became the omnipotent power in the subcontinent. They united India as never before and India was the Jewel in the Crown. The Raj stretched from the Khyber Pass to the plains of Assam and deep down to the states of Travancore and Tamilnadu. This was the biggest Empire in Indian history, much bigger than anything that Aurangzeb or Raja Ashok had ever dreamt.
There is no doubt and it has been proved historically that India consisted of nearly 500 small kingdoms. All of them were united and became part of what is called the British Empire. The British left India united but when the time came for them to go away the Indians themselves were not ready to kiss each other and this animosity gave the English a chance to divide the country.
Divisions
With Independence round the corner after the defeat of Hitler, the two major parties the Congress and the Muslim League jostled for power. The Muslim League was headed by Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Congress party headed by self-styled "Mahatma" Mohandas Gandhi. He was assisted by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and personal Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad. The last named was a political lightweight and he was supposed to oppose Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Unfortunately his following consisted of only a few Muslims as almost 90% Muslims were with Jinnah.
Farook opens Hornet's nest
Recently in a program on TV, Farooq Abdullah, the Ex-Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir clearly stated that partition would not have taken place, but it took place because of the attitude of Nehru and Patel. The Muslim League in its Lahore session of 1940 had in a resolution called for the state of Pakistan.
Research papers and a witness to the era Leonard Mosley has stated that Muhammad Ali had only made the demand for Pakistan as a bargaining chip and he wanted to be the Prime Minister of India. Patel and Nehru along with Azad were opposed to Jinnah as prime minister. At this stage in case, the Congress party had accepted Jinnah as Prime minister, partition may not have taken place. Nehru, however, wanted to be the Prime Minister of India and the others also wanted some crumbs of power.
Maulana Azad, in particular, would have been reduced to an outsider as Jinnah had nothing to do with him.
The last days of the Raj
Leonard Mosley in his book "the last days of the Raj" has documented all that happened in the corridors of power. Jinnah had the support of the Muslim League, all Dalits and Scheduled Castes and the Princes. These were members of the Prince's chamber which were a part of parliament. He had a majority and Nehru could not accept this. He and Patel along with Azad met Gandhi and convinced him to accept the demand for Pakistan. Nehru had selfish reasons for this as he wanted Jinnah out of the way and to his mind creating Pakistan was the only way to send Jinnah out of contention as Prime minister of India.Such comments were made by the BJP leader Jaswant Singh in his book "Jinnah, India, and Partition"
Rest is all history as the attitude of Jinnah hardened and Nehru had his way and became PM of India and Gandhi accepted Pakistan. It was his biggest defeat.
7 years ago
MG Singh created new article The Two Nation Theory:is it Relevant Today.
Mohammad Ali Jinnah is regarded as the founder of Pakistan. It is often forgotten that Jinnah started his politics as a secularist and a leader of the Congress Party. He, however, transformed himself into a rabid communalist and coined the slogan "two Nations and two people". He said that Hindus and Muslims cannot live together and are allergic to each other. He said they were two different philosophies and he gives an example that a Muslim eats a cow but the Hindu worships it.
Two nation theory
That famous word "Two Nation theory", thus was coined. The British accepted this Two-Nation theory and decided that an independent Muslim State needs to be carved out for Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. The state Pakistan was created. The state itself was an anomaly as it was separated by 1200 miles of Indian territory. Whereas East Pakistan was mainly Bengali speaking, West Pakistan was mainly Urdu speaking and apart from religion, both of them had nothing in common. In addition because of the great distance between the two parts, there was very little chance of integration between East and West Pakistan.
The Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi stoked the flames of discontent and helped create an independent Bangladesh. In other words, she broke Pakistan into two parts. Many people at the time said that the two nation theory was dead and gone.
The creation of Pakistan and the acceptance of the two Nation theory took place in 1947 and now over 7 decades have passed, yet the question which is in mind of many is whether in the modern context, as far as India is concerned: is the two Nation theory dead?
The political scenario in India
Let us have a look at the political scenario in India. India is home to the second largest Muslim population in the world, in fact, there are more Muslims in India than in Pakistan or Bangladesh. This is a massive minority but as can be seen, the Muslim leadership has not integrated with India The Hindu population also by and large is suspicious of the Muslims and consider them as fifth columns in India. The divide between Hindus and Muslims has not been breached one can just see from the ongoing dispute of the Babri Masjid, which has been simmering for 70 years that there is no sight of a solution, as both communities do not wish to give and take. Muslim leaders like Owaisi, day in and day out bring out that Muslims are separate from Hindus and they do not want to integrate with the nation and want their own personal law and constitutional guarantees of the rights.
The large Muslim minority in India is in real terms acting as a roadblock to the development of the country. Muslims even now in India think of themselves as a separate Nation. Bangladesh me have broken from Pakistan but Indian Muslims still identify with Pakistan. Actually, if you look at history, the concept of Pakistan originated from Bhopal, Lucknow, and Bihar and these States never became part of Pakistan because they were in the heartland of India. The seeds of Pakistan have remained in communities in these areas and given a chance the Muslim community in India would like nothing better than to have a separate Homeland, in other words, a third partitions. On the face, it looks preposterous and many Hindus and some Muslims will join issue with this statement but a closer look at the state of affairs shows that there is no social intercourse between Hindus and Muslims in India. Muslims want their own laws and to be governed by the Sharia and they want separate rights from the Hindus and at every stage, they point out that they are a distinct society.
Two Nation theory not dead
One can safely say that the old two Nation theory is certainly not dead as far as India is concerned. It's very much alive and kicking and men like Iqbal will be happy in their graves to know that Hindus and Muslims are in fact two separate Nations. Many point to the fact that Hindus and Muslims have lived together for 1000 years. However, people miss a very subtle point and that is that both the communities lived together when the Muslims were the rulers, though the Hindus were in the majority.
If such a scenario is replicated that once again the Muslims become the rulers of India, then only are the Muslims ready to consider India as one Nation. What is the solution for this? I am afraid there is no solution as the Hindu by his very nature is the weak as well as a pacifist and he will go to any length to try and a placate the Muslims in the hope that they will accept India as one nation. It's not going to happen and over the decades the differences between Hindus and Muslims instead of going down have accentuated.
7 years ago
MG Singh created new article Zimbabwe health minister complains Chinese Condoms too small for Africans.
China has made long strides in the field of manufacture and industry to military power. It has also developed deep pockets. China has a lot of surplus cash to donate to needy countries. It is hard to reconcile that in 1948, not even a bicycle was made in China but now it has even launched a Spaceman into Orbit around the earth. China is also manufacturing utility items and items that help in birth control and prevention of disease. China manufactures condoms which are distributed all over the world.
Zimbabwe and AIDS
WHO and UNAIDS have bought hundreds of thousands of condoms from China for distribution in Africa. One of the countries where China has sent condoms is Zimbabwe. This country forms part of South Eastern Africa and is in dire need of healthcare. It is one of the countries which is beset by AIDS. As per WHO almost 13.5% of the population is HIV positive. This is a huge number and the sad news is that 40000 new cases are coming up every year. It is also known that a condom is the best defense against the spread of sexually related diseases. The population in Zimbabwe is greatly infected because of unprotected sex.
Condoms and AIDS
Condoms address a vital necessity in Zimbabwe but unfortunately, the physical structure of the African Negro is much bigger than the Chinese race. The Chinese have been manufacturing condoms generally keeping their size mind. It has been pointed out by African men that the Chinese made condoms are too small. At a function in Harare on AIDS awareness, the Zimbabwe Health Minister made a public announcement that condoms manufactured in China are "too small" for Zimbabwe men. He expressed the view that it would be better, in case the condoms are manufactured in Zimbabwe itself. This view of the health minister of Zimbabwe is echoed in South Africa by the Health Minister also, who has said that Chinese made condoms do not fit the African male.
The human race which evolved over a billion years has a different structure in size and weight all over the world. The Chinese come under the Oriental race and are basically smaller in size than the African Negro race. it stands to reason that the penis of the Chinese men would be smaller than the African men. This is a reason that the Chinese made condoms are proving to be too small for the African men.
Chinese condoms
The Chinese are a dedicated and versatile people and they have taken note of the criticism by the Zimbabwe Health Minister. They have accordingly started a study regarding the size of the condoms for the African men. The chief of the Chinese manufacturing company has said that China will send a fresh lot of condoms for African men.
Tribal culture
Zimbabwe for long was a Colony of the United Kingdom. it was earlier known as Rhodesia after the great explorer Cecil Rhodes. After gaining Independence from England the local African leadership changed the name to Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, though they changed the name of the country they could not change tribal cultures. This culture accepts something close to free sex and is the main reason for a rapid spread of AIDS in this sub-Saharan country. Zimbabwe has the highest incidence of AIDS outside the sub-Saharan Nations. South Africa also has a high incidence of AIDS. It is generally known that the spread of AIDS virus is not only because of unprotected sex but also because of frequent change of partners. This is part of the tribal culture but it has the flip side that sex-related diseases like AIDS have spread beyond imagination.The condom remains the most effective method to control the spread of AIDS. Researchers have found that the condom is 90% effective in controlling the spread of the disease. India also is very much in the same boat and as per WHO statistics, India has the largest number of AIDS patients in the world. This is certainly not a very happy news
The sub-Saharan group of countries and the Countries Of South Eastern Africa have a high incidence of rape also and this needs to be curtailed. The Muslim countries of North Africa are however relatively free from the scourge of AIDS and rape. The spread of AIDS has been more like a bushfire and during the last 3 decades as per WHO statistics the number of infected patients in East Africa has shot up by 50%.
Future
Zimbabwe would certainly be worried about the spread of the disease and as the condom is the main source of its prevention it is imperative that proper size condoms be made available for African men. It must be understood that tribal culture cannot be changed and the culture of having multiple partners is not going to end. The only source of controlling the disease is to start a massive health education program and convince the African whale to make use of condoms.
7 years ago
MG Singh created new article Why Pakistan Hates India; A look from the Pak side.
I have had the privilege of visiting Pakistan many times, mostly it was in connection with my official work. I must admit that I was always treated with great respect and I had the occasion of befriending many officers of the Pakistan army. These were always friendly talks but it gave me an insight into the Pakistani mind.
After discussion with my Pakistani friends, I was able to get an insight into what Pakistan thinks about India.We should not dismiss their thoughts and opinions as if they are of no consequence. It is vital to understand their psyche and the hurt they feel. Yes, some of it is true.I will briefly summarise the thoughts of the Pakistani vis a vis India.
Firstly, many Pakistani say that in 1943 there was no talk of Pakistan.That talk for Pakistan came after Gandhi and Nehru in a devious manner stopped the installation of Mohammad Ali Jinnah as the Prime Minister of India( this is corroborated by Leonard Moseley in his book "The last days of the Raj") In addition, the failure to give constitutional guarantees to Muslim minority by both Gandhi and Nehru sowed the seeds of Pakistan.Today generally in Pakistani this is cited as an example of discrimination against Muslims.
Secondly, during the 1971 crisis, India actively intervened in Bangladesh to break up Pakistan into two parts( I am afraid this is true). They say the Mukti Bahni on its own could not kill even a chicken. Yet Indian Army officers and soldiers were operating deep inside East Bengal in the guise of Mukti Bahini. When you are crying hoarse that Pakistani supported terrorists are operating in the Kashmir is really meaningless.The fact remains that the country which first started operations inside the territory of Pakistan was India when it sent soldiers inside East Pakistan disguised as Mukti Bahini to attack the Pakistan army and their soldiers at every opportunity.
It was India as per many Pakistani which opened the Pandora's box of cross-border terrorism. Pakistan also feels that it is India which is killing innocent Kashmiri youth and labeling all the killed Kashmiri youth as terrorists coming from Pakistan.This is a total lie. Pakistani also feel Indians are not sincere and they are consumed by hatred of Pakistan and Muslims in particular.
Pakistani view Narendra Modi as a murderer, as a man who got hundreds of Muslims killed during the 2003 riots in Gujarat. I have heard Bilal Bhutto talking on TV and saying that the perception of Pakistan about Modi is that he has blood on his hands. The feeling in Pakistan is that India and particular the RSS have not reconciled to the creation of Pakistan.
Pakistani point out that Sikh's and Hindus live in peace in Pakistan and are protected by constitutional rights. They point out that article 9 of the Pakistan constitution gives guarantees the religious minorities, right to life and property. As per them in India, no such constitutional guarantee exists for Muslims with the result that Hindu Muslim riots are frequent phenomena.
As things stand, I do not think there will be peace with Pakistan because Pakistani want to avenge the creation of East Pakistan. They say their country was broken by India and they will not rest till they pay back India in the same coin.
The old saying that to get a feel of the enemy one must get into his shoes. This is important and it is clear that we DID create Bangladesh and broke Pak into two. How will they forget that?
7 years ago
Kakoli roy created new article Ideas to decor your home entrance lobby.
Entrance of a house is the vital thing that we consider whether it is related to the security or decoration. The entrance of the house can be decorated, few things can be applied that can make your exterior of the house or your entrance lobby more attractive to the outsiders.
Entrance Door
The entrance door of our house is the first thing while any one search to enter the house. The door of the entrance attracts any person, so a special interest should be kept to make the door more grand in appearance. The door can be of any material plywood, laminated door or wooden doors. the wooden doors are believed to be more durable compared to the other material and expensive. The wooden door with its fine textures and the splendid designs on the door give a grand appearance to the people or guests. The Door entrance can be of large width or of small width both have a separate gesture and thus a tactful and innovative designs of the entrance door is all we require. The wooden door are highly preferred due to the durable and attractive designs give your house a stunning look.Choose exceptional colors to paint the door or the pasted textures on the door provide a warm appearance.
Low light plants
Decor your lobby with the low light plants. The plants provides purified air to the atmosphere, along with it improves the view of the entrance lobby. The plants of various sizes involves in a natural look to the lobby. Low light plants require less sunshine to grow which can be kept inside the house and can grow easily. Few indoor plants that looks beautiful and embraces with the gift of nature are money plants, Staghorn Fern,Snake plants, Cactus. These plants requires very less care an grows easily providing more oxygen and decor your lobby.
Sitting arrangements
Improve the entrance look along with the utilities, such as the sofas or chairs which are placed in the lobby. Visitors who can sit and wait for few minutes, the different attractive furniture related to the chairs and sofas are available made of wood, plywood, bamboos placed with the center table. The furniture that are to be placed may be proportionate the floor area of the entrance lobby. The comfortable movement of the people should be kept in mind while you place the sofa or chairs. We should try to give a small sitting area if you have a small lobby and if large you can provide a large sitting area.
7 years ago
MG Singh created new article Sridevi's death and the Mystery Created.
Life is full of ups and downs. It is never a straight line and the same applies to the life of the superstar Sridevi. The death of this actress has shocked the nation and there is no doubt that most of the people who see films in India are affected. Sridevi had a special place because she was a versatile actress and well of course, very beautiful.
Death in Dubai
Unfortunately, she died in Dubai and I have to say that this death is not an open and shut case. Every Indian citizen when he or she dies anywhere and under unnatural circumstances has the right that his or her death is investigated. In the case of Sridevi also there is a need for her death to be investigated. The Dubai authorities have said that there is no foul play. Perhaps they are right but there is a lingering doubt and this must be set at rest
Let us evaluate the news as it was broadcast. Firstly it was announced that Sridevi had died of cardiac arrest. In other words, she had been killed by a heart attack. This news shocked many of her friends including the brother in law Sanjay Kapoor. He said that she never had any heart problem and so I wonder how this news of the cardiac arrest spread subsequently.
Theories
It was again announced that no, she did not die of cardiac arrest but she had drowned by accidentally falling into the bathtub. On the face of it, this is very silly because for a person to die in a bathtub he or she must be so sozzled with a drink that he or she doesn't know what was happening. Now we know that Sridevi never drank hard liquor like whiskey or Gin and all she imbibed occasionally was a glass of wine.
Amar Singh who is a family friend has corroborated this information, so the question that Sridevi was intoxicated or on the high and fell into the bathtub and drowned looks preposterous. The Dubai Coroners office has written in the autopsy report that the actress died of "accidental drowning." How the Coroner reached this conclusion is a mystery. One must remember that the bathtub is not a swimming pool and to drown in just about 2 feet of water is something which is totally unnatural.
Mystery
As I have written Sridevi never drank and yet the autopsy report states she died of accidental drowning and traces of alcohol was found in her blood. The fact that she never drank hard liquor adds to the mystery.
There are many people who suspect foul play and one of the men who has voiced an opinion that Sridevi was murdered is Subramanian Swamy, now a member of the BJP think tank. Subramanian Swamy has said in a taped interview that he is aware of a nexus between the Underworld led by the Don Dawood and Bollywood. He has further added that this nexus maybe the cause of Sridevi's death.
Case of Mrs. Tharoor
This looks preposterous at the moment but one must remember the case of the wife of Shashi Tharoor the Congress member of parliament. His wife had died and it was let out that he had died of an overdose of medical pills. Forensic experts reconstructed the scene of the crime and finally concluded after almost a year that she had been murdered. The Delhi Police are still investigating the case and the murder suspects as yet have not been identified and arrested.
This is just an example to show that what is apparent is not real and what looks likely may not be the ultimate truth. In this case, even the likelihood that she could have drowned in a bathtub when she was healthy and fit is something that cannot be digested. Taslima Sharif, the writer from Bangladesh who has been hounded out from that country by Muslim extremists and is now settled in Delhi has said in a statement that "healthy people do not drown in a bathtub".
This is a very telling statement and there is no doubt that there is a lot of truth in it. Sridevi has now died and she has also been cremated but her husband Boney Kapoor has a lot to answer as many factors in the timeline do not match or gel together.
Last word
The Kapoor family would like the case to be closed so that they can get on with their lives. But everything cannot go on just as required. The police in India needs to have a fresh look and try and come up with a plausible theory. Drowning in a bathtub on one's own is not the correct answer. What, in case somebody ha caught her and pushed her into the tub and held her till she died?
The case must be investigated for the satisfaction of millions of her fans who dot the length and breadth of India.
7 years ago
usha manohar created new article The Mysterious Incident at Akashdeep Estates - Part 5.
The mysterious incident at Akashdeep estates – 5
With so much happening in one day - the long exhausting drive through the winding roads and meeting Shalini had completely drained me because all I remembered was flopping on to my bed , thinking things over for a minute or so after which I must have slept like a log until the early hours of the morning. I was awakened by some sound coming from outside. When I opened my eyes I could see faint day light coming in through the curtains. I opened the curtains wide to let the daylight into the room and what greeted me was simply amazing. I could see acres and acres of coffee estates spread out on the slopes and the little hill beyond . There was mist, sunshine and beauty everywhere I looked . As I bent down and looked I could see the sound had come from the grounds below where several estate workers stood round a table and responded when their names were called. Obviously their day was beginning with a roll call. I looked at the clock and noticed that it was already 6.30 Am. I hurried through my brushing , changed into fresh clothes and went down the stairs.
At Akashdeep estates
I saw Geeta busy in the kitchen , she smiled at me, asking me to sit on the veranda where she would serve the morning coffee. I went out and saw that Mahesh anna and Rohini aunt were already there . Since it was almost dark yesterday evening when we arrived I had not had the opportunity to see either the veranda, which was beautifully furnished with cane furniture and lots of potted plants nor the spectacular view over the garden and the road beyond the sloping, looped circular driveway. The coffee plantation was spread out on either side of the house and the garden. The garden was a riot of colors with flowering plants, bushes, climbers and small trees. It was very beautiful and I could not help but wonder how anybody living in this paradise could feel bored or go into depression ?
As we sipped our coffee Mahesh anna and Rohini aunt discussed about household affairs and then Mahesh anna asked Rohini aunt and me to look after Shalini since he was going to the bank , take care of other jobs connected with the estate as well. Rohini aunt had a funny expression on her face when she responded saying that Shalini was OK some of the times , so not to worry. Mahesh anna looked confused and said that he had not seen her being OK. Rohini aunt did not say anything to that but turned to me and said that we could go down together to the garden and I could walk round the estate and I was more than willing to accompany her. Mahesh anna , as he waked with us towards the garage told me " Enjoy your walk and I promise to take you to the town one of these days". I smiled at him and nodded my head.Mahesh anna I felt was very considerate and affectionate.
He also told me that the small town center which was at a distance of around 4 kms, had 2 banks catering mainly to the coffee estate owners and workers and a post office and two schools. Other than that they had a chemists shop , a couple of restaurants , a general store and a hairdressing saloon. The nearest doctor was located 12 kms away. He said that he should be back for Lunch and we could go through the estate accounts after that if it was alright with me and I immediately agreed since I wanted to start work as soon as possible.
I and Rohini aunt plucked and gathered the flowers , collecting them in the basket she carried . Later as she went into the house , I decided to continue walking down the driveway to the road through which we had come and where we had met the handsome stranger who had made Mahesh anna unhappy , last evening. I went to the gate and stood outside looking at the winding roads and the valley below. It was all too beautiful and I felt as if I had been transported to a different world altogether. I stood there for a long time taking in the scenery and came down to earth when I heard someone calling me. It was Geetha calling me for breakfast.
Unraveling Shalini
Surprisingly Shalini was there at the dining table drinking coffee and she seemed to have come out of her trance , was properly and fashionably dressed , so unlike the previous evening. She began talking to me. I could see Rohini aunt watching her with a sardonic smile on her lips. Shalini wanted to know how long I was going to be here and what exactly Mahesh anna had told me ? I tried my level best not to reveal too much of what Mahesh anna had told me but at the same time managed to satiate her curiosity. I was somehow under the impression that it was she who wanted me to be here. Things were getting more and more curious.
After breakfast I went up to my room and unpacked my clothes and arranged them in the wardrobe and brought down some snacks that my mother and atthe had specially prepared . I gave it to Rohini aunt and Shalini and apologised for having forgotten about it the previous evening. Shalini just waved it away and went out to sit on the verandah but Rohini aunt and Geetha ate some of the sweets and savories and showed their appreciation. Shalini was almost back to her royal self as she sat there on the verandah seemingly without a care in the world. I understood exactly what Rohini aunt had hinted at. I wondered , what kind of game she was playing ? I also felt sorry for Mahesh anna for trusting her blindly. It was almost impossible to unravel Shalini and her game plan.
I went inside to help Geetha and Rohini aunt prepare lunch and when I happened to pass the front door I could see Shalini walking down the driveway towards the road, the same route I had taken in the morning. She was smiling to herself and seemed to be in a different kind of trance just then. For some reason I had a premonition of danger which I brushed away immediately but the feeling persisted with me all through the day.
Lunch was ready and Mahesh anna was back , stil there was no sign of Shalini. The first thing he did was to enquire about Shalini. Both Rohini aunt and I gave our account as to how she seemed normal , that she had gone for a walk down the drivewy towards the road...that for some reason made him very angry.
He said " I asked you both specifically to keep an eye on her and take care of her "
To which Rohini aunt retorted " Is that possible Mahesh ? she is not a child and more importantly does she listen to me or to anyone for that matter ?. she knows and does exactly what she wants, so stop worrying about her "
This made Mahes anna even more angry and he striode away , walking down the driveway to find her.
They both came after a while ,with Mahesh anna holding her hand . Shalini was a changed person altogether , looking downcast , terror stricken like the day before and without looking at any of us went up to her room.. Mahesh anna looked even more worried but did not say anything more and we went in to have lunch.
( To be continued )
7 years ago
suni51 replied to the topic Modi a global leader.
epraneeth77 wrote:It is still the starting stage on international front, though he has been doing good, it is important that he...
7 years ago