The Elections

[This is a work of fiction. A drabble in poetry form].

He was the dreaded school bully,

She the topper of her class.

She despised school politics, but since 

Nobody wanted to challenge him,

She ran against him for School Captain.

They all certainly hated him, 

But were not sure of her either.

She generously shared her notes, 

But could she bark orders?

All the teachers loved her, 

But maybe a bit too much?

She won honours for the school, 

But somehow just didn’t look the part.

She was brilliant, but didn’t she lack

The commanding presence to lead?

But

But

But 

More than half the school despised him-

He won.

Another Revolution around the Sun

 Last year, on my birthday, I promised myself that I would accomplish three things before I completed another revolution around the sun. I decided that I would learn a new language, get my Open Water certification and start on and complete one large craft project. I failed miserably in two, and barely made much headway in the third.

After struggling to fit the Open Water certification into my schedule, I put it aside for anotehr day. I do still hope to get it someday, but when that will be, I cannot tell.

The crafting project didn’t ever go beyond the planning stage, though I did put in some effort into learning new techniques which I might apply in the future.

For a couple of weeks, my Urdu lessons progressed well, till I reached a stage when I could make out parts of words in hoardings. But then the complexity got to me, and I stopped. Not gave up, not yet. But put on indefinitely pause.

I should be disappointed because I fared so badly, and yet I am not. Because though I missed on on these smaller things, I did well on the Big Thing. The thing that I had chosen as the cornerstone of my life sometime last year-

'Stand Up. Speak Up. Show Up.'

It was not easy. At times, it was actually pretty hard.

To stand up for what you know is right, even though almost everyone around you thinks otherwise. To risk antagonising family and friends who are living in a dimension very different from your own.

To speak up is hard, when yours is a lonely voice. Staying silent is tempting when you know the hate that will be heaped on you for opening your mouth. Even if you know you are right, it is easy win an uneasy peace with your silence.

To show up even when you believe that your presence doesn’t make a difference. To stand and hold that placard, to address that letter, to speak to a stranger and try to convince him of what you are protesting for.

When your life is packed tight, and you don’t have the energy to ‘stand up, speak up, show up’, you can convince yourself that you are doing 'enough'. That someone else can fight the battle you are too tired to take on. That you don’t have to be there doing everything.

But no matter what you do, it is never enough. Because there is so much to be done. So many battles to be fought, just to hold on to our heritage and ensure equal opportunities for all. Those battles will be fought. Because they must.

I am happy that to the best of my ability, I did stand up, speak up, show up. I could have done more, but at least I did as much as I could. And it counts for something. While I go around the sun again, I want to continue doing just that.

I also want to make more time for people; the people who matter, and the ones who need me. I want to spend more time with beauty; natural and man made. I want to continue living in joy.

And somewhere in all that, I hope I am able to achieve the three things I promised myself last year.

March 2014: Not considered a risk

The traffic light turns amber, you step on the accelerator in the hope of being able to get through before the light turns red. You narrowly avoid colliding with the person who has taken off seconds before the light turned green. You swerve, you swear, and you go on. After all, haven’t you been in the same situation almost every time you have taken the car out?

Accidents are averted most of the time. When they happen, the victims become just another statistic. Yet, we continue to set our own rules. Breaking traffic laws is not even considered a risk. 

____
Out on a run, I saw this line painted on a door and had to pause to click a photograph in March
2014: The Year That Was

The Laws that Govern us- Day 24 of #100happydays

The Constitution of India is based on the English one, and many of our laws are archaic and at odds with each other. Which leaves it open to manipulation and misuse. The Courts recently ruled that all homosexual sex, consensual or otherwise, is illegal. Which means you can be arrested for having sex with your same-sex partner in the privacy of your home. But nobody will even raise their voice if you lock up your daughter to prevent her from marrying the man she loves.
Our Constitution definitely needs to be revised. But does anyone care enough to do it?
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Republic Day is the day when we adopted our Constitution. I wish we could do more than just raise the flag.

Can you be happy for 100 days in a row. Sign up for #100happydays
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Things jar, sometimes

It was a home-nursery. The owner spent time showing me all the herbs I was interested in, and a few more besides. He was everything a owner-salesman should be- courteous, knowledgeable, patient. I ended up buying one plant more than I had originally intended to.

But right after I paid up, and while I was still putting the plants in a carry bag, he walked away. Just like that. He didn’t have to stay till I was gone, but considering I was the only customer around, it jarred that he didn’t.

I’m not sure if I would be going back.

______  
A Drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

What's with our Weather?

 

What’s with our Weather?

A few days back, we had one of the hottest days in February. Less than a week later, we had the coldest day in March. Dress for the weather, they say, but which one? The temperature fluctuates from hour to hour- you are shivering in a full sleeved shirt in the morning, sweating in a sleeveless top a few hours later.

Maybe, we should just be happy there is no likelihood of rain- at least we don’t have to carry an umbrella with us. Though that may not be a bad way to protect us from the sun.

 

______  
A Drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

She taught me.....

I was 14 when I met Scout Finch and heard her say, “I think there is just one type of folks. Folks.” Ten simple words spoken by a mere child! Ten words that ended up shaping how I view the world.

I am headstrong; I react in haste. But eventually, I put myself in the shoes of the other person, and once I do, it is not hard to understand why they did what they did. And I no longer hold it against them.

Empathy- that’s what my favourite character taught me.

What did your favourite female character teach you?

______ 

A Drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

Image taken from the Internet