THE HIDDEN PIECE : MOVING FORWARD IN THE EYE OF THE STORM

                                                      MY MOTHER'S WOES  Sarah lost her parents at age two to a fatal car accident, leaving her as the only survivor. Following the tragedy, her maternal grandmother took over the parental responsibilities and brought her up in a pretty humble background. They both made a living by selling home-made packaged food to labourers at various construction sites. Although her grandmother couldn’t provide her with all the luxury, Sarah believed her parenting style was the best thing that happened to her after her parents’. She provided her with love and care, instilling the moral values that have helped to improve her Christian life. Like some say, ‘Good things don’t last forever, life is all about suffering!’,

                                                                                                               LIFE IS CRUEL The following morning, I woke up to bright exterior sunshine that lit up my room. It shone on my face so brightly that it got me squinting the moment I tried opening my eyes. I bent my head to shield my face as I turned away from the direction of the sunrays. As I moved, I felt a pulsating pain in my temple which I supposed must have been from last night's cry. I held my

                                                      LET PEACE LEAD My grandfather received the Letter of Administration as the legal heir to my father’s assets a few weeks later. The next hurdle was to find out where my father lived before his demise. But it wasn’t easy for Grandpa, who became frustrated and angrier at some points. With the likes of aunt Adhira nudging him on, he persevered with his search. Three months later, Adhira came with the news of figuring out where we lived, after sighting my mother at a supermarket and trailing her to my father’s house in Delhi. Seeing her going in and out of the house many times, she knew she had come to the end of her search. Soon my grandparents knew about it. Everyone was glad about the good news and flung into actio

                                                            The Dream  One morning, I sat on the edge of the mattress with my elbows on my knees and my face in the palms of my hands, as I tried to create the strange dream, I had last night…  'I passed by a crowd of people inside and outside, crying and cursing God for taking the life of a man and his wife after the death of their four children who died mysteriously, six years ago. I kept wandering without stopping when I heard a loud voice say, "People are quick to call me many inappropriate names for something they think scares them. But the truth remains that I am the Alpha and the Omega; They are my children and I love them. Their work on Earth is finish

                                                              THE VISITThe mission of reconciliation to my paternal home in Mumbai turned out in the manner we least expected. On sighting Grandma from afar, Mum knelt down, touching her ears as she moved on her knees from the gate to where she was, begging for mercy in tears. Her knees bruised as she moved along, desperately in need of peace. It would take the devil himself to be unmoved at the sight of this scene. Grandma never saw this coming, as she was motionless throughout and quite difficult to tell her next line of action. Mum was obviously in pain, and I hated to see her in that manner. I gently wiped away the tear that dropped my cheek. When she got to her, she bowed and touched her feet, kissing them