Echoes of life

It was getting dark. The sparrow babies on the mango tree delightfully cried when they heard their mom coming back to the nest. Their mother affectionately kissed them and put food into their mouth. There was the chirping sound of them sharing that day's happenings. Vimala joyfully watched the scene. Nowadays it has become a hobby for her to watch the sparrow family everyday. There are three babies in the nest. Two weeks back, when maniyannan was plucking the coconuts, one fell on the mango tree's branch and the nest fell down with four small sparrows..One of them was heavily injured and nobody could help it. Vimala tried her level best to cure it but it died that night. She had asked Maniyannan to place the nest on the mango tree and he did so. When the mother sparrow returned, she was heart broken to know what had happened. She sat on the window and sadly looked at her dying child..Vimala couldn't afford the scene and when the small one died she ran away avoiding her mother's cry. 

Vimala suddenly turned back when the telephone began ringing. It was Murukan on the other side. "Vimalechi, there is one....the first one in the new cradle. She looks five days old..a cute little one." She couldn't realize whether because of sorrow or joy that she cried. "Bring her here fast. She needs care." They had to complete some formalities, Murukan said. Police will come very soon. Vimala sighed deeply and went to inform others.

The 'Love Shore' became lively the moment they heard the news. Everybody began making arrangements to receive the new member. Some started thinking about a beautiful name to name her. Seetha, who was supposed to breast feed the child came within ten minutes and everybody eagerly waited for 'Lakshmi'.

She was as cute as an angel. Her small feet reminded of rose flowers. Her face was reddish and she was covered in a beautiful woolen cloth in which was printed rose flowers. There was a tag around her wrist. Vimala took it and read:"ammukkutty"..Everybody looked at the tag and was surprised.."She has an identity..thank god...she is luckier than the other children we have got" Seetha sighed. Vimala took out the tag carefully and with a forced smile kissed her cheeks:"Lakshmikkutty" ..

While lying with Lakshmikkutty that night Vimala couldn't sleep but was haunted by memories.. "I am not fighting with anyone", she said herself "and I am not taking revenge either. Its my dedication...my passion..I do not feel loneliness now. i am happy and satisfied being with these kids..They are the angels who resurrected me from that pandemonium". She kissed Lakshmi. "My dear child, whoever be the one who gave you up in the cradle, I am sure he or she cannot sleep tonight..even if thousands of nights they may sleep without any disturbance, tonight, their sleep will be haunted by you..your rosy face.. I am sure, my angel..and believe me my sweet, that, once they will cry for you, they will desperately thirst for your presence and they will confess like anything for throwing you away without mercy.."She couldn't control her tears.

Even after five years of this great venture, she amazes at the heartlessness of these cursed children's parents. When she was brutally beaten and out casted by the so called community and in laws for not being able to give birth to a child, while she cried aloud to all gods for the bliss of a child, when she was given up by her once loving husband and his people, there were many people considering their child as a curse, as an unwanted piece of disturbance...She falls unconscious at the meaninglessness of this mad world and its big mass of inhabitants. Later many times she said herself.."It was not a curse that you were not gifted by a fertile womb..Instead, it was a bliss. Now you are mother to not just one or two kids but twelve little angels...and many more to come..." It was a fearful dream to think of the yet to be thrown up kids, but the world is too hectic, she knew well.."Oh God, you are one who has the best plans for every body..Yet again, we plan and design our life a lot..we fools.."

All the kids were around their new sister throughout the next day. They even competed to play with her. In the blue colored dress she was even prettier..She seemed to enjoy the presence of all around her. Her cry lightened  Love Shore's each nick and corner.. A new music that en-lived the whole members..

It was in the evening that the young man came in a luxury car. He was more handsome than anyone she had ever seen. His gestures and even his silence proved his dignity and high living. He pretended to be a well wisher. Vimala smiled to herself."I have seen you kind of men before.." He talked in a dignified manner and throughout he tried to convince her of his innocence of anything happened yesterday. "I read a news in today's news paper. And it was my friend who suggested of the idea to sponsor a child..You know I had discussed with him about doing some charity works..So I thought it would be a good idea to sponsor this new baby..." He was talking without looking at her. There was a long silence. She didn't say anything and he looked at her in a pleading manner. She looked at his pleading eyes in hate and disgust."You coward," she called him in mind,"if you are not courageous enough to accept her in public she doesn't need your charity either... You must not be allowed with repentance.. You are trying to cheat your own conscience by affording her expenses, that you have done your duty and that you have not been cruel to her and that you have washed out the dirt that has fallen upon you when you threw her away...I won't let you that.."

He tried to keep up the mask until the very end and tried to convince her in whatever manners he could. But she was stern and rigid that she said she was not running an orphanage to accept such charity. Five mothers are here and all these are our own children. We give them family life and everything in a natural way and we raise them up from the income we earn from our jobs. We don't need money from any one to feed our children...

Finally before he got into the car, he requested Vimala to show him the new baby. He looked at her in a deep melancholic manner and resisting his urge to call her by her name asked Vimala: "well, what's her name?" ..Vimala took the baby and looking at his eyes said:"lakshmi, we call her lakshmikkutty.." His face turned pale..Without looking at them again he got into the vehicle and rode fast.

Vimala looked at Lakshmi and kissed her hands.."My dear, I am sure you are not angry with me. Yes I know, that you are not. Because, you are going to be a strong woman with self respect and pride who wont like the charity from someone who was not ready to value you above his prestige and name... " She kissed her again and again and found out the light in her eyes reflecting in her own heart. The sparrow mother had returned and the babies began chirping endlessly... Vimala felt she was one among them, like that sparrow mother holding her child in her arms...

My Best Friend

When

They look at my eyes,  

She looks at my heart.

When

They give me their hand,  

She gives me her assurance.

When

Their words talk to me,

Her's inject confidence in me.

When

They listens to what I am telling,

She listens to what I am not telling.

When  

They come and tell me "don't cry"  

She gives me her shoulder

And

They all disappear when I shut my eyes,

But

She is more clear to me even then.

And

That is why they all are my friends,

But

She alone is my best friend!

മാനിഷാദ

താഴ്വരകളിലെ മേഘമാലകളില്‍ 

അവള്‍ പരിഭവം കുറിച്ചിട്ടു 

പൊടിഞ്ഞു തുടങ്ങിയ ചിതല്‍പ്പുറ്റിനുള്ളില്‍ 

വാല്മീകി ഉറങ്ങുകയായിരുന്നു 

ഉണര്‍ച്ചയുടെ സംഗീതം  

നൈമിഷാരണ്യത്തില്‍്  

മുഴങ്ങുന്ന തുടികൊട്ടായി... 

വേടന്റെ അമ്പില്‍ രക്തം പൊടിഞ്ഞപ്പോള്‍ 

ഇണക്കിളി കരഞ്ഞില്ല 

അവളുടെ കണ്ണ് പറിച്ചു 

അവന്‍ ദൈവത്തിനു നീട്ടി

അന്ധനായ ദൈവമേ...

വാല്മീകി ഉണരുന്നു 

തുടികൊട്ടിനൊപ്പം

മേലേക്കുയരുന്ന രണ്ടു കണ്ണുകള്‍ 

ദൈവത്തോട് കഥ പറഞ്ഞു 

മേഘം കരഞ്ഞു തുടങ്ങി... 

പുനര്‍ജ്ജനി

ആഴിപ്പരപ്പിനപ്പുറം കുതിര്‍ന്നണയുന്ന അന്തിസൂര്യന്‍
ചൂടാറിത്തണുത്ത പ്രണയപാത്രം താങ്ങി
ദിക്കറിയാത്തൊരു വഴിയില്‍ തനിയെ ഞാന്‍...

ആളിപ്പടര്‍ന്ന കൊടും ജ്വാലകള്‍
എരിച്ചു തീര്‍ത്ത മനവും മേനിയും
ആകെത്തളര്‍ന്നു വിറക്കുന്നുവെ ങ്കിലും
ബാക്കി നില്ക്കുന്നു പിന്നെയും നിനവുകള്‍...

നീയെന്തു നേടി?, കൂവിയാര്‍ക്കുന്നു ചുറ്റും
ഉത്തരമെന്തിന്?
നേടിയതും പോയതും
എന്റെതെങ്കില്‍, എന്റേത് മാത്രമെങ്കില്‍...

ഞാനിനി മടങ്ങില്ല
എത്ര ഭംഗിയാര്‍ന്ന വെളിച്ചത്തിലേക്കും
കരിഞ്ഞു വീണ ചിറകുകള്‍ നോക്കി
മണ്ണടിയാന്‍് കാത്തിരിപ്പല്ലെങ്കിലും

നടന്നു തീര്‍ന്ന വഴികളൊക്കെയും
ചിറകു വീശിപ്പറക്കാന്‍് തുടങ്ങണം
പറഞ്ഞു തീര്‍ന്നെന്നുറച്ച പഴങ്കഥ
പുതിയൊരീണത്തില്‍് പാടിത്തുടങ്ങണം

തളര്‍ന്നതല്ല, ഉണരുവാന്‍ വേണ്ടി
മെല്ലെയൊന്നു മയങ്ങിയതാണു ഞാന്‍
തളര്‍ന്നതല്ല, പറക്കുവാന്‍ വേണ്ടി
ചിറകൊരെണ്ണം പണിഞ്ഞതാണു ഞാന്‍.

Who am I?

Never have I thought that I haven't got an answer for this question. But each moment says me, "you are not the one a moment ago.."
I know that is truth..a truth that prevails for ages..!