s4scratch

       While going through the beautiful zoo at Dehradun, I spotted a bunch of bamboo trees. You must be wondering what is so special about finding a bamboo tree at a zoo, isn’t it very obvious as there will be wildlife and their habitat along with many trees. The tree had carvings! Scribblings on its stem! I read about scribbling on monuments and trees for the first time in class eight while reading a chapter in History. Now that I find any of them, it makes me wonder whether people who fail to keep their words in real life are inclined to show the world- their promises? Why?      Mostly, abuse or couples' names can be found engraved. When we love a person we should respect them in real life instead of writing on beautiful monuments, green trees, or furnished restaurants. Accidental cuts to trees are justified, we too get into accidents and lose our organs or are damaged. However, what about intentionally hurting, and how is it justified anyway? Mostl...

  22. 04. 2022     The English department at my institution (DSVV, Haridwar) has a restricted number of students along with professors. As a result, everybody knows each other quite closely. In other colleges, students do not get to see the professor due to the number of students and the ratio of faculties. It is quite the opposite for me, as a student here.      Being invited to a professor's house for a family event is a great honor for a student or at least it was for me. My HOD, Dr. B.P. Upadhyay, was all set with arrangements to get his daughter married. It used to be the highlight of every class, with all of my peers asking questions about the preparations. He used to update us after every class. The day came and we were invited. It was a Haldi ceremony , where family and friends apply Haldi (turmeric) to the bride for good skin and a good omen. Asking several times about the invitation and then actually being invited are two very different scen...

     I am traveling back home today. As I write this, I'm inside a train that's running at its full capacity. None of the seats are vacant; families are returning home to spend their summer vacation. Children with their families are excited and keep on asking where they reach and when will they reach their destinations. It's quite nostalgic to watch. For I've traveled by train since I was a child. From traveling with my mother to managing the whole trip alone now, I feel I'm growing and evolving. Instead of just saying hello to people in the same compartment, I can observe beyond the basics.  Story 1: I met a kid today who departed at the last station. He was a hyper child, and it sounded like his mother did not want him to socialize at all. It is sad to realize how people ignore the special needs of children with different physical abilities.   Story 2: A newly wedded couple is sharing the seat beside me. The bride can not stop crying. There might be several re...

       I returned home after around three months. I observed changes in my mother's routine. Instead of ranting about the loneliness, she chooses to be productive out of it. There are a lot of children of varied age groups in the same building where my mother lives right now. She let the main door open during the morning and evening hours. At first, I thought it was for good air conditioning. Later I realized it was an open invitation for the children. Their visit is not only limited to locomotion; she gives them mini-lessons during the conversations. The lessons would include cutting fruits to share with the siblings or cousins, plucking flowers without hurting the leaves, and many more.      My mother was performing her prayers to God when I woke up today. I realized a child was sitting. On looking carefully, I saw he was accompanied by a pencil and a notebook. It was quite a surprising view, as the last time I came home the same kid was afraid to e...

  My professor inspires me; she offers ideas and all I want to do is explore all the possibilities in my head. A new assignment from her stirred up some precious memories and some musings.  As you read more, your opinions transform; you form opinions, and the old ones sometimes vanish. Something similar happened to me. I grew up in Bihar, and when I stepped out of my state I realized I was now representing my state, in a completely new place. Now that I had to talk to people about Bihar to outsiders too, I started reading about it. The language, Bhojpuri, when spoken with the natives gives me a welcoming feeling. Now that I call my friends, I prefer talking to them in Bhojpuri, than in other languages. Irrespective of the place, I have always been fond of folk traditions. The variedness is amazing. While visiting the same state, you might come across very opposite or similar traditions. It fascinates me. I believe this interest developed due to my family. It was them, who kep...

Destination- Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. This trip began on the ninth day of Navratri from Haridwar Bus Stand, opposite the Railways Station of Haridwar. The bus took overnight to reach our first destination, Shimla. I was excited to visit the mountains for the first time. The peace mountains offer forces us to return to the place again. On visiting Shimla, apart from witnessing the aesthetic scenes that I only saw in movies; there were a few aspects that forced me to write.   I wish to freeze the moment, When I first saw you Like music on loop, a picture to stare at, with no clue.   Dear Letterbox  The 10-year-old I used to reach the post office in one go and put my poorly written letter in the letterbox. I wanted to write a letter to the letterbox, right away asking "How are you doing at heights?" Shimla was always beautiful before and after the invaders came and looted it. The show," Ek Tha Rusty" on the National channel used to broadcast stories of Dehradun and ar...