The Bicycle Rider

The spikes of the bicycle have been revolving for 10,791 days; and it has gathered the dust of time from all routes the gears of life have steered it through, and it will run many a days, alike.

Dusts and mud, washed sometimes by the clean water of the juvenile stream or by the old stagnant ponds. The lakes and the seas have had their role to play, waving to it an adieu as it heads along through the lush green jungles. The rider would never boast that it ever missed a slip, when the roads were slippery with moist moss. Nature, still he loved and still he strives with his gears of life holding the push-bell firm. There, it still has new in roads to make.

The back seat, well it's smeared with the touch of several soft hands. But, it never missed it's share of being roughed by the barb wires. With all the greatness bestowed upon the lord almighty, it still has the strength to carry on.

Today, the spikes stopped for a while. The rider had put on the brakes; rare one and looked behind the path he has taken. There was a bifurcation or may be more than one, which he now couldn't see behind. Unfortunately the cycle wouldn't budge from it's onward route, so the thoughts clouded his mind. It was an assorted congregation from cries of birth to the squeaks of baggage that has his degrees and diplomas. A thunder or two burnt his desires and showers that drained away his passion. But, flowers bloomed in his meadow and he kept them untouched, locked away from harm's way! The rider also foresaw his aspirations brighten ahead and smiled. 

A look at the paddle- a balance between good and bad times. He has to step on both of them and steer ahead. He looked ahead; where the roads will meet one day and be bigger and brighter. Till then, he has to push ahead. And he will....

... I will; 2,58,984 hours....and counting!!!

(c) Somnath Paul | somnath4you@gmail.com. | 2012

When Hibiscus was Red...

.. and the Leaves were Green; I left my studentship. I left as a we and We never felt happy to step out of the aisles, for there was life and memories that we were leaving behind. Together we sang the bengali numbers and english alike. A point of time, we really felt that "those were the best days of OUR lives!" Then there were cultural programs, alike; and we stood at each other's side, trying to make it a success. That time, the reds and the greens mixed, to give an aura of flora, that would hug the memories for ever.

But today, that same garden is tainted with broken petals of red falling apart from the green leaves! Today, life seems so much red, smudged in the viscous liquid called blood and people die for the farce, named college election. Fashion? Is it? Duty! I say my foot and then the loud speakers blare aloud; exercise your democratic right!

The recent incident at Garden Reach, Kolkata, made me realize it further with the grave shadow of concern; the machinery for which college union was devised for, is being utilized for all the wrong purposes. Purposes, that are not meant to be and facts that will always lure one's self estimation into the abyss of bitter bites! I call this system to be eaten to the core and needs a strong review, before the flowers of righteousness can bloom back to it's full glamour!

Let this short note be one, made as a testament, for the apathy that the young Indians are getting into and that will not take the nation any further, but have a bunch of "Young Politicians" who will not know about the bitterness of True Political Principles but the sweetness of making many simple lives bitter.

Amen!