Concealed among shrubs,Saleh watched Shirina grow increasingly perturbed,first frowning,then whimpering,and finally throwing herself upon a fallen log, in a torrent of tears. It was not until he noticed the tiger approaching, that he abandoned his hiding spot to rescue her.
Shirina,oblivious to the danger she was in,saw Salah and erupted into curses,yelling at him for following her.She was not a fan of creepy stalkers and had no sympathy for unrepuited love.
Salah ignored her harangue.He had a bigger challenge at hand.He stepped stealthily past her and then,face with the Royal Bangal,he had to think quick.The beast roared a fierce growl that seemed to emerge from the bowels of the Earth and shook the wind . Its burning eyes blazed into the heart of Sakeh’s courahe and spoke of the hundred men it had eaten ,the villages it had destroyed.Without sufficient time to chalk out a plan,Saleh resorted to the one skill he had and let out a piercing whistle,so loud it alerted all the bats,dogs and deer in the mighty Bengal of the battle about to ensue.
The shocked tiger roared and unfurled sword –like claws,but then bounded off into the distant horizon.Shirina threw her arms around Saleh and showered him with kisses.Saleh found however that he was a changed man . He no longer desired her tender lips.The encounter with the man-eater had stirred in him a cornucopia of emotions and he realized in that instant,his hunger was not for love,but for the hunt so he ran into the forest in pursuit of real adventure.
Friday, 27 August 2010
Love ,The City of Dhaka
Dhaka, crisscrossed by the Buriganga, Balu, Turag, and many rivulets, canals and marshy lowlands, had once a stable ecosystem. Because of unplanned development and indifferent attitude of the Rajuk and all the past governments, Dhaka has lost its glamour and liveliness. Dhaka is choking to death with its entire population who love and still live in Dhaka. Dhaka is still the city where money flies in the air, sort of. The people of undeveloped and deprived rural areas still flock to Dhaka with the last hope of survival and livelihood. The neglected city, Dhaka, is still embracing them with great affection. All the policymakers of the country live in Dhaka, breath in Dhaka but no one looks around. Unplanned expansion, both vertical and horizontal, is putting unbearable strain on the city. The rivers, cannels, marshy lowlands and agricultural lands around Dhaka got grabbed and filled by the musclemen of land grabbers and developers. One single instance will tell you how much land Dhaka, once a beautiful city, lost to dishonest elements. The kingdom of Bhawal once owned bulk of land of Dhaka. In the ‘70s and ’80, unholy alliances of corrupt bureaucrats, businessmen and some elements attached with the judiciary system prepared forged documents, by using old judicial stamps, specially formulated ink and false witnesses and transferred most of Bhawal King’s land properties legally (!) to their names. If we have a master plan for Dhaka’s revival and if we start addressing those issues one by one, Dhaka might get better and might smile up again.
HUNGRY LOVE (1)
The jatra was over,the were backstage removing their makeup. The band had disbured,with theirt
Tablas and ek-taras. Only drunk men lingered by the abandoned bamboo stage under the
moonlight,waiting for a glimpse of the starlet.
Shirina sat in front of a mirror and lamented about her performance, but realy she was upout because she was longly. Saleh,the backstage helper,heard her woes and told her she was brilliant, as luminous as the sun. His words fell upon the indifferent wind and were carried off to the Bay of Bangal.
For eight years Shirina had played Radha, traveling from village,to share with others the ultimate love story,but it was not expect divinity,just a spark of affection from a Krishna of her own ,not a man in a mask,not a make believe show,something real.She decided that night,she would tun away from the gypsies.This village seemed anice place to settle down,with the stream running through it and the mango groves.
Saleh,who had spent eight years hungering for Shirina’s love , sensed something was amiss the next morning when she,the light of his life,lingered at the tail of their procession.He stepped out of line and waited ,hidden in the trees.It was a lucky thing too because latter when Shirina finally gave the group a slip and began wandering back to th e village,she took a wrong turn and found herself lost in a forest that enveloped her in its menacing darkness.
Tablas and ek-taras. Only drunk men lingered by the abandoned bamboo stage under the
moonlight,waiting for a glimpse of the starlet.
Shirina sat in front of a mirror and lamented about her performance, but realy she was upout because she was longly. Saleh,the backstage helper,heard her woes and told her she was brilliant, as luminous as the sun. His words fell upon the indifferent wind and were carried off to the Bay of Bangal.
For eight years Shirina had played Radha, traveling from village,to share with others the ultimate love story,but it was not expect divinity,just a spark of affection from a Krishna of her own ,not a man in a mask,not a make believe show,something real.She decided that night,she would tun away from the gypsies.This village seemed anice place to settle down,with the stream running through it and the mango groves.
Saleh,who had spent eight years hungering for Shirina’s love , sensed something was amiss the next morning when she,the light of his life,lingered at the tail of their procession.He stepped out of line and waited ,hidden in the trees.It was a lucky thing too because latter when Shirina finally gave the group a slip and began wandering back to th e village,she took a wrong turn and found herself lost in a forest that enveloped her in its menacing darkness.
Thursday, 26 August 2010
LOVE GAME(2)
‘Where are you going?’ He allowed the annoyance to surface.
‘Home.’
‘Home?’
‘Yes home .I have to go back to him eventually.’
‘Oh.’ Instinctively,he crossed his arms against his chest and stared down at his legs covered by the bed sheet.
‘You know we vannot stay like this together.Do not sulk please’she said,finally looking at him.
Sensing he needed assurance, she walked over to his side and gingerly whispered as she licked the corners of his lips.
‘Love is…bullshit ! He pushed her off his legs and fumbled with his lighter.
She pulled herself off the bed and shlowly walked to the door,collecting her beg and keys from the floor.
‘Call you later?’
He grunted in response . Non –committal.She gave him one last look and let herself out. He did not look back. He did not watch her leave.He lit his cigarette and inhaled strongly.The dull throbbing ache resumed in his chest.He glanced at his watch , the time showed four fifteen in the afternoon.His checkout was at six/
‘Love is letting myself be fooled,’he whispered into the emptiness.
‘Home.’
‘Home?’
‘Yes home .I have to go back to him eventually.’
‘Oh.’ Instinctively,he crossed his arms against his chest and stared down at his legs covered by the bed sheet.
‘You know we vannot stay like this together.Do not sulk please’she said,finally looking at him.
Sensing he needed assurance, she walked over to his side and gingerly whispered as she licked the corners of his lips.
‘Love is…bullshit ! He pushed her off his legs and fumbled with his lighter.
She pulled herself off the bed and shlowly walked to the door,collecting her beg and keys from the floor.
‘Call you later?’
He grunted in response . Non –committal.She gave him one last look and let herself out. He did not look back. He did not watch her leave.He lit his cigarette and inhaled strongly.The dull throbbing ache resumed in his chest.He glanced at his watch , the time showed four fifteen in the afternoon.His checkout was at six/
‘Love is letting myself be fooled,’he whispered into the emptiness.
LOVE GAME(1)
‘Do you love me?’
‘What is love?’ she whispered as she pressed her lips against his forehead. Moving away from his touch, she positioned herself at the other end of the bed.
‘Love’ he echoed , his voice deep and aroused , ‘Love is lust is love.’
A smirk waltzed across her lips.She grabbed an orange from the fruit plant on the bedside table,and started peeling it.Tiny droplets of the juice showered her face.She lazily wiped the drops away and then licked her finger.
‘Love is just is love.No love is knowing when to stop long before you get screwed ,’ she said ,as she sucked on the piece of the orange into her mouth.
A throaty laugh emanated from him as he lit a cigarette.’Love is never having to say sorry,’ he said .Both of them exploded into loud guffaws.
‘Love is loving and being loved’she quipped fast.
‘Love is over-rated’he replied.
‘Love is knowing when you have found you’re soul mate.’
‘Love is teenage girls’ dreams with candy floss and pink unicorns.’
‘Love is feeling like you are invincible.Love is…. Love is….’she paused,trying to find something to say,’crap ,I can’t think of anything ease.’
‘He ha ,Shall I google love quotes ?’he caught the pillow she had thrown at him .’I swin.’
He lurch forward to grab her but she deftly him and got up from the bed.
‘Where are you going?’Surprise flooding his voice.
No answer. She continued to dress herself.
‘What is love?’ she whispered as she pressed her lips against his forehead. Moving away from his touch, she positioned herself at the other end of the bed.
‘Love’ he echoed , his voice deep and aroused , ‘Love is lust is love.’
A smirk waltzed across her lips.She grabbed an orange from the fruit plant on the bedside table,and started peeling it.Tiny droplets of the juice showered her face.She lazily wiped the drops away and then licked her finger.
‘Love is just is love.No love is knowing when to stop long before you get screwed ,’ she said ,as she sucked on the piece of the orange into her mouth.
A throaty laugh emanated from him as he lit a cigarette.’Love is never having to say sorry,’ he said .Both of them exploded into loud guffaws.
‘Love is loving and being loved’she quipped fast.
‘Love is over-rated’he replied.
‘Love is knowing when you have found you’re soul mate.’
‘Love is teenage girls’ dreams with candy floss and pink unicorns.’
‘Love is feeling like you are invincible.Love is…. Love is….’she paused,trying to find something to say,’crap ,I can’t think of anything ease.’
‘He ha ,Shall I google love quotes ?’he caught the pillow she had thrown at him .’I swin.’
He lurch forward to grab her but she deftly him and got up from the bed.
‘Where are you going?’Surprise flooding his voice.
No answer. She continued to dress herself.
THE CONFETTI OF LOVE (3)
Each breath of sweet air that rushed through the open window was a reminder to Oliver of why he loved spring.Oliver smiled as he fingered the golden band that encircled his finger.Spring was when he had met his wife Anna on this very same train.
She was sitting in the seat opposite of him.He had immediately noticed her.She was beautiful and vibrant despite the scar that crept down her click.She had her head out the window,peeling petals from a daisy, whispering he loves me,he loves me not,and he loves me! It was thenthat Oliver was smitten with the patal throwing goddess.Their eyes met and the rest was history.
Oliver reached for a daisy and let his finger brush against Anna’s.Oliver and Anna put their heads out of the window into the rush of the spring air. Together they smiled at the world, and then let the daisy petals being to fall.The turquoise skywas once again filled with the confetti of love.
She was sitting in the seat opposite of him.He had immediately noticed her.She was beautiful and vibrant despite the scar that crept down her click.She had her head out the window,peeling petals from a daisy, whispering he loves me,he loves me not,and he loves me! It was thenthat Oliver was smitten with the patal throwing goddess.Their eyes met and the rest was history.
Oliver reached for a daisy and let his finger brush against Anna’s.Oliver and Anna put their heads out of the window into the rush of the spring air. Together they smiled at the world, and then let the daisy petals being to fall.The turquoise skywas once again filled with the confetti of love.
THE CONFETTI OF LOVE (2)
Anna tucked her head back inside the train window and held the bouquet of pink drasies inhaled and inhaled as she let the small of promise and hopes fill her senses.
She grabbed a fist full of petals, dangled,let go to one petal at a time and began her whispered chant of ‘He love me, he loves me not,and he loves me!’ The pink petals become confetti sprinkling the turquoise sky..
Across from Anna sat Oliver.He sat inhaling the warm spring air, enveloped in the feelings that spring always brought him,feelings of being thankful,feeling a live and being in love.
Oliver had been in love before.But sometimes things that you thought were meant to be,were not meant at all.Oliver had lost faith in love but it was the springtime ebb that had pushed him to believe in love again.
She grabbed a fist full of petals, dangled,let go to one petal at a time and began her whispered chant of ‘He love me, he loves me not,and he loves me!’ The pink petals become confetti sprinkling the turquoise sky..
Across from Anna sat Oliver.He sat inhaling the warm spring air, enveloped in the feelings that spring always brought him,feelings of being thankful,feeling a live and being in love.
Oliver had been in love before.But sometimes things that you thought were meant to be,were not meant at all.Oliver had lost faith in love but it was the springtime ebb that had pushed him to believe in love again.
THE CONFRTTI OF LOVE(1)
Anna Put her head outside the train window and let rush of the late spring wind blow her raven curls.She loved each patch of lush green and cinnamon earth that zoomed past. She lifted her head to the turquoise sky and let the sun soak its yellowy warmth on her face as she breathed in the flowery air.
She loved the spring .It always brought in the air of new beginnings.It was the time of the year when everythings. It was the time of the year when enerything buzzed and bloomed anew.But what Anna liked the most about spring was the way love floated in the air.
Anna had been in love in the past and thought she had found her Knight in shining armor.But the scar that tattooed itself down the side of her face had taught her that all that glitters was not gold.
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