Of envious Gods and an angel called Nanu

She was simply my Nanu, chirpy, pretty and a wonderful person to be around with. She was close to my heart not only because we had same blood running in our vein, but because of the unique affability that existed between us. I dont remember how or when I first met her, but being the darling of my aunt and uncle among the bunch of their wonderful children, there was no mistaking on her popularity among the extended family. I can still see her showing me her picture in a dance pose decked in a velvety dress. She must have been in standard one or two.


Fastforward ten years later.

She had appeared for her matric exam and was getting ready for NERIST entrance exam. I often visited her house ( naturally whenever I needed something from my aunt or uncle ... being a truant youngman) during those days. Whenever I came, she would be the first to come out and greet me and tell all about her dreams and plans as wont a young girl of 15 would and elicit a promise from me to visit her regularly incase she makes it to NERIST. I would, I promised, for upteemth time. Fate had something else for her, and NERIST simply vanished from our horizon.

In a short while, I started courting her aunt and Nanu became my willing accomplice in wooeing my fiance . Her aunt became my better half with passage of time, and we became closer as a family.

Meanwhile, I had joined civil service, and was posted in Gauhaty. Once again Nanu and I were involved in trying to build her dream into reality as she came down to Gauhaty for various entrance exams. She had all the stuff to be a succesfull candidate for either medical or engineering college. But, what did we know fate had something else for her and she would straddle across the country like a free bird.

She joined Delhi university. She would make a stopover at my place at Gauhaty whenever she passed through. After graduation she joined TISS, Mumbai to finish her PG. I was tied up with my career and she after her profession. Still we kept in touch through phone and she was all gong ho about her studies and her future dreams.

I went to Afghanistan for two years and she joined an NGO. Whenever, I called her up, she would elicit promise from me to visit her in Mumbai. I would, I promised once again for umpteemth time, but could never make good my promise.

Last summer, I met her for a very brief moment at Itanagar. In that brief moment, she told me all about her dreams once again. She had dreams, beautiful dreams of world filled with beautiful people which she enjoyed and shared. She, always a child at heart whenever she met me, saw me as a means to weave and chase her seamless dreams.

How did we know she had roused the envy of Gods and angels by her lively nature and beautiful being, that they would pluck her in the prime of her youth. Before she could spread her wings to realise her earthly dreams, they took her to be with them in the heaven above.

On 31st October'2008, while we mortals waited for her to spread her wings and take to the sky to fulfill her dreams, GODS in the heaven quitely stole her from us.

O heavenly spirits, I do not have any ill will towards you for snatching her from amongst us, but I pray thee, that she may remain as free and happy in your paradise as she was here. And that she glide in the valleys, soar into the sky, hop from flower to flower as her spirit flows. Let her spirit remain unfettered under your safe guidance, Good Lord. May she continue to bring warmth of a winter sun and gentle breeze of summer evenings in heaven as on earth.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

AN UNCLE REMEMBERS


When you left...............................

I always knew you were an angel. And now you have gone to be with your own folks. Angel you were, but with a difference .. for


You left .... the shadow of your being in the sunlit path of my life forever,

Youleftyour mirthfull laughter which would shame the songs of rivulets meandering and spiralling down the hill,

You left your sparkling eye, filled with mischiefs that would shame the fawns sporting in a meadow,

You left your angelic smile all scaterred, and never cared to gather it before you left for your heavenly abode,

You left so many things half done, were you in a hurry?


************
Good Angel

Even so, you are in a fairy land now,

Be ever as happy as you were,

Among the fairies, dancing from flower to flower

Suckling the honey that nourishes your eternal being

Here, your AKU prays for your soul and spirit,

Knowing full well, you are the one who need no prayers,

For you, yourself are the prayer

The Good angel !

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The Old Fool


This old fool will,
At times be emotional,
Eyes will become misty.

Excuse him.

And if you happen to pass by in your angelic way,
Dont be startled by,
The drop of tears,
From Old fool's eyes.

Excuse him.

If you happen to fly by with your fairy friends,
And peek through the window,
And see this Old Fools lips,
Mumbling,
Just skip through,
For this Old Fool,
Asks his Lord,
Why pluck the flower before it blooms,
Before it yields to ,
the caress of the winds,
songs of the bees,
dance of the butterflies,
sweetness of the water,
warmth of the spring sun.
The freshness of dews still on its petals,
You took her away.
Is it because, you were jealous,
Of the beauty of your own creation?
Tell your fairy friends,
This is your own foolish AKU SULU,
In his own foolish way,
Conversing with Lord.

Excuse him

And as you fly away once again,

Into your heavenly abode,

Look back once again,

But think no more,

Of your Foolish Aku Sulu,

For emotions are preserves of we mortals.

Adieu Adieu