1 COVER STORY
Executive Editor:
In Conversation: Jim Ankan Deka Sankhya Samhita talks to Jim Ankan Deka and learns about his passions.
Pramathesh Borkotoky Editor: Myra B Contributing Editor: Noyon Jyoti Parasara (Movie) Sankhya Samhita (Music) Other Members: Mani Padma(Creative Supervisor) , Kavita Saharia (Strategy Supervisor), Manimugdha Sharma (Strategy Supervisor and Anupam Bhattacharya (Creative Supervisor). Published by: Pramathesh Borkotoky, Hashan Hazarika and Rakib Ahmed for
5 Poetry 10 I proud to be Indian: Northeast Indian
Poetry by Guest Poet Matthew Holloway and Manjil P. Saikia
Mani Padma tells about her Pride – Northeast India.
13 Flooded Memories
Fried Eye c/o Pramathesh Borkotoky Kenduguri, Jorhat-785010 Note by the Publishers: Views expressed in the magazine are personal views expressed by the authors. Fried Eye is not liable for it.
Mapra Duo try their hand in 55 Fiction Contact:
14 Last Gift Mr. Pramathesh narrates the story of a dying man.
17 Through the Lens
REGULAR PLATTER
Saumarjyoti Borah with some Java Beans Music Review
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Book Review
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Miss Cellany
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Horrorscope
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contact@friedeye.com
Editorial
Talent is generally considered to be an innate, personal gift possessed by relatively few people. In essence, someone with talent has an aptitude to do certain things. Every person is born talented in some way or the other. If we had to measure talent by any means then it has to be the amount of humility the person has. Fried Eye has brought me into contact with various kinds of people and my personal experience says that, the more the person is talented the more he is humble and wise. Another thing that I noticed among the more talented people is the daring quality to follow their mind. Whatever happens, they just follow their own mind. Perhaps, this quality makes them so talented otherwise talent gets wasted. Whatever it is, we just appreciate who dare to follow their mind. Cheers! Pramathesh Borkotoky Executive Editor, Fried Eye
In Conversation - Jim Ankan Deka Sankhya Samhita gets to know Jim Ankan Deka and learns about his love for Music and Northeast. When Pramathesh first sent me the contact number of Jim Ankan Deka, asking me to meet him and talk to him while I was in Bangalore, my first feeling was that of nervousness. The reason being that I had fallen in love with Jim Ankan's music the first day I had heard it, and hence obviously considered myself in risk of being overwhelmed and awed by the person on actually meeting him. Unfortunately though, for my own reasons, I couldn't meet Jim Ankan Deka in person, and had to remain contended with talking to him through the blessed phone. Nervous I was, but the moment we started talking I couldn’t help wondering how easy it was to talk to this person who single-handedly started the Eastern Fare Music Foundation and made his name as the first Assamese to start a music instruction school in Bangalore.
Jim Ankan Deka was born in Guwahati to a family seeped in culture. His father, Late Prof Bhabananda Deka, an eminent scholar honored by the Assamese community for more reasons than one, and his mother, poet Nalini Prava Deka, inculcated in Jim a respect for Assamese music and culture right from a tender age. Jim had his first music teacher at the age of six, who taught him to play the "khol". The urge to create music was also something that Jim possessed from that nascent age, with his first composition at the age of eight. At fifteen, Jim Ankan was already a member of the first Assamese rock band "Prahar", which also managed to release an album, a feat everybody would consider noteworthy at that age.
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While Prahar couldn't make it in the long run, Jim kept pursuing music by performing with another band Voodoo Child while in Guwahati. But the hunger to learn music, precisely to play the piano professionally and the lack of facilities thereof in Guwahati, made Jim shift base to Bangalore. The tryst with music instruction happened when Jim joined "Fuzions Music Academy" as a teacher. However, after being handed over the charge of six schools under the same academy by the owner, Jim realized that there was so much more he wanted to do for the people of Northeast and there was so much he could do, that he came up with the thought of a whole new organization. And that, is how Eastern Fare Music Foundation came to be born. The Eastern Fare Music Foundation started in 2009 with 25 students and absolutely no promoting or advertising strategy. But its success can be gauged by the fact that just based on word of mouth, the school had about two hundred students in just two months. Today the foundation operates in four locations spread across Bangalore, with the number of students increasing to nearly 500, including international students and a total staff of over 20 teachers. It is also equipped with a state-of the art jamming room and two semi-acoustic studios, which are also available for commercial services. However, Eastern Fare is not just about the music. Passionate about Northeast that Jim Ankan is, the foundation is also in charge of maintaining the “North-East India� page in Facebook which promotes everything related to this land of "elysian culture and verdure", that the Northeast is, to quote their very words. Also in the offing is an information centre where people would get to know all about the Northeast, such as places worth visiting out here but not suitably promoted tourism-wise, among other things, all free of cost. On being asked about Eastern Fare the band, Jim mentioned that the focus of the band was to introduce acoustic rock, which is quite popular elsewhere, but not so much in India. With that in aim, the band, with all the members hailing from various fields but connected by a common fervor for music, got together to create music. The band has been performing since in numerous places, and its first album is scheduled to be released sometime in October under Times Now.
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I then asked about Veenar, the two-man band that Jim Ankan is a member of. Veenar happened when Jim met prominent Carnatic vocalist and Veena player Suchetan Rangaswamy at a show, and both got to talking about how classical music can be made more popular by fusion. And so they came up with the band, in which Jim Ankan handles the music, with Suchetan Rangaswamy lending his vocals and also playing the veena. Veenar also will be having an album under their name, which is under editing right now, and will be released soon. So much about the school and the bands, I wanted to know about the music, and I asked Jim what went into making a piece and about his inspiration when coming up with a new song. And his answer was simple. Intuition. Unlike conventional music composers who churn album after album year after year, Jim almost waits for the songs to come to him. And since he believes in creating only music that he likes, he has come up with just four pieces in the past four years. But he is in no hurry, since the heart is in the quality, and not the quantity. All in good time, as they say. No wonder when I hear his music it makes me stop and think. And more so, it makes me feel. Like I can almost see a kaleidoscope of colors, with a million paintings forming and then dissolving inside my mind. When so much goes into making a piece it is bound to have an equally enduring impression. What next, I eagerly asked him. The visionary that he has already proved himself to be, I was interested in knowing what his dreams for the future are. Do something for the Northeast, came the prompt unhesitant reply. Start up a school in Assam, where music would be taught professionally, where students would learn music and then sit for exams and get appropriate certificates and degrees. Jim also wishes the young generation in Assam would not be so job-oriented, or hesitate to take up music as a full-fledged career. He wishes to do something about this as well; enlighten people out here about the wide scope of music as a profession. His other desire is to bring out those people in Assam who deserve to be known. To portray all our wonderful people whose work and life somehow missed the recognition they were entitled to. Although I knew Jim Ankan has a very busy schedule, what with so much happening, what struck me was the easy unhurried way in which he entertained my eager questions. There was so much I wanted to know. Like whether he had always thought of taking up music as his profession. And that's when he corrected me, saying he doesn't consider himself a professional. After more than two decades of being involved with music, he still considers himself a student, since there is always so much more to learn. And well, I had so much to get inspired from Jim Ankan Deka himself; whether it be his unwavering love for Northeast, and an almost contagious zeal to actually do something for this place, or his extremely humble approach towards music and life in general. I ended the call, awestruck and overwhelmed like I knew I would be, but not before realizing that all of us with a passion for music out here in Northeast should consider ourselves lucky to have such a willing mentor always ready to help us out. With my whole-hearted loyalty, and all the best wishes we at Fried Eye can bring together, we wish that all of Jim Ankan Deka's visions are brought to life, and his dreams for the Northeast come true.
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Fortunate Enough -
Miss Cellany
Dear Diary, For long I have always wondered about criticism – its general and non-discreet availability from those who cannot tell between salt and pepper. About why if there was a girl in the house it is expected that she cooks AND has the natural inclination to do so. About Paris Hilton & Lindsay Lohan – one HAS to be in public to earn her daily bread, one cannot earn her daily bread because she’s too public. But the most irksome of mankind’s traits I noticed quite prevalent is the profound, even justified, arrogance over one’s good fortune. Man is gravely ungrateful at his supposed good fortune, and is filled with a sense of superiority over those dissimilar to him, even in his own species: “Hey your skin color is black, while I’m white! You will now be my slave – do everything I ask you to do without further questioning, even if it means selling your child. And you being treated like a fellow human shall henceforth be unlawful!” “Look here donkey/camel/horse/ox/dog in the polar region, I will make you carry heavy loads (heaviest of them being my own ass) and keep spanking you until you die or we reach the destination. And when you die, I’ll console myself by calling you ’just a brute’.” Looking through a friend’s Facebook profile earlier in the week, I saw a picture with three people wearing dark glasses getting a stream of “3 idiotts or 3 andhe… ha ha ha” one-liners. Resentment grew. Hatred brewed. I failed to comprehend why a person wearing dark glasses HAS to be associated with blindness and is deemed an insult. How does one not being able to see make the other person superior? Because (s)he can operate the computer better (Oh really!?), look better (Beauty. Is in the eye of the intelligent beholder)? Anyway, FYI, all things in this world were designed in a way as to fulfil everyone’s needs in general. If all engineering happened with the visually impaired in perspective, nobody would know what hit them. Truly RP (Retintis Pigmentosa) style. And this logic would apply to every other inability a person could have, not just blindness. But, but, but… I have to be honest. I’m only having these thoughts because I’ve been personally affected. I would otherwise have been completely oblivious to crushing the life out of someone less fortunate than I am – just like I stepped on that insect because I was too lazy to shift my foot five inches to the side. Well, now I know. And I’m keeping away from wrongful pride at my good fortune. Yes sir. I’m not going to undermine anyone anytime for being mentally retarded, blind, deaf, mute, lame, tall-fat, short-fat, tall-thin, short-thin, fair, dark, rich, poor, ugly, in same ‘gotra’, hates pani-puri or any of its combinations, including those unsuspected and hence not listed. No sir. It’s one of those I appreciate about RP. It makes me more humble. A better human. Signing off, Me
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Hello I am Matthew Holloway, Born in 1978 I was raised in a small town in the north west of England called Winsford situated in the county of Cheshire a rather rural homestead. I would be the first to admit my life‟s adventures lack any excitement. I have lived a rather plain life leaving school to spend two unsuccessful years and college before a string of jobs never falling into a career.
Sorrow’s Joy -Matthew Holloway
My greatest passion is poetry which I suppose has always been a part of my character before even I realised it. In school teachers often noted my strong sense of imagination and story telling. But it was not until the summer of 1996 when I began my journey into poetry. I began by writing song lyrics inspired by the Rolling Stones ‟Little Red Rooster‟ I wrote a blues ballad entitled „Woman Blues‟ as the years progressed the lyrics drifted into poetry, stories, lyrics and poetry once more. After the turn of the century I became more drawn to poetry and set about developing my own style.
The is a joy found in sorrow Such melancholy emotion How bittersweet its beauty Amongst the lonely night The memories seem much sweeter When tasted through tears Tainted by the fantasy That never bore its fruit In heartache love seems greater As though it can cure all ills An answer to every question Even those unasked And places of far distance What a life could await A new beginning so far away From all that hurts in this place And still sorrow will be retained To make so much seem brighter In sorrows joy we see All and everything we dream.
My influences have impacted heavily on my writing from the iconic musicians like Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and Alice Cooper to poets such as Edger Allen Poe and Dylan Thomas. I began posting my work under the name Poet1978 on Myspace and used the feedback on each piece to guide me where I was strong or weak in my writing. Around 2008 I moved away from Myspace and started posting on Facebook also around that time I began reading work by the likes of John Keats, Lord Byron, etc. It was the romantic imagery of their poems that effected me more than any other so my style matured into a style similar to what may be considered classical. My dream is to have my own book published and settle down into a loving relationship. To continue writing and enjoy others poetry what awaits me I am unable to say. I am easy to find and always ready to answer questions about myself. You can find me here, just ask me for an invite to my other poetry page and I will happily oblige. http://www.facebook.com/The.Poet.Matthew.Holloway
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Humane Song -
Manjil P. Saikia
Try not to show how downtrodden you are; Everyone amongst us is equal; God send us here. That lazy face admits no admittance. There is no place in the heart for woes' acquaintance. Morning through night toil is the lot of all Even if you fear it you must dare once fall. Seemingly unknown if you keep your smile hidden; Then you miss the path which you were untrodden World would be a disgrace for thy ever Trust in yourself and say not you fail never; If the Tristan did betray; then leave it childish fate Search among the ones you respect as your mate, But this you must know men; you are born, To die and don't think you can never be torn.
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Music Review: Crazy Love -
Sankhya Samhita Album name: Crazy Love (2009) Artist/Band: Michael Bublé Genre: Vocal/Jazz
Rating: I swore unwavering loyalty to Michael Bublé right from the first day I heard him, given the fact that I really love all of his songs, bare none. Very rare does it happen that an artist manages to raise expectations with each album, and meet all of them in the next. So when I got hold of “Crazy Love” I was more than willing to fall in love with his music yet again, although a higher share of the tracks are covers of older popular numbers. When the first track “Cry Me A River” started playing, my first reaction was that of surprise. The track begins with an intro that is totally over the top and theatrical; a far cry from the Michael Bublé that I knew. It almost made me think of a drama stage with a single floodlight on the hero, in the center of the stage, with his white shirt open at his chest and arms wide open. Oh well, forgive me the occasional imagination overdose. But coming back to the song, “Cry Me A River” is about vengeance, about being unforgiving and ruthless, and yet would make you go all “Serves her right”. The very next song “All Of Me” is about surrender. It is a much more mellowed song, both music wise and sentiment wise, and is also easier on the ears than the first track. “Georgia On My Mind” again is a cover of the original Ray Charles song, and manages to capture the pathos of the original with the added Michael Buble flavor. The title track “Crazy Love” is dedicated to Van Morrison‟s original, and is well done too. And just when you think you would want more of original Buble and less of covers, he surprises you with “Haven‟t Met You Yet”, which is perky and peppy, and extremely happy. The beat is typical Buble and the lyrics even more so. The peppiness continues in the next song “All I Do Is Dream Of You” which would kind of remind you of a love-struck happy-go-lucky guy in a funny hat, the kind you might catch doing a jig in the middle of the road. But then the mood becomes somber with “Hold On” which is bound to make you think of “the one” in your life, or make you want to find that someone in case you haven‟t already. “Heartache Tonight” starts with a Broadway like intro, and even the beats would kind of remind you of a a Broadway sequence with dancers in synchronized fashion. The next song is a cover of the popular song “You‟re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You” which is best known in the Dean Martin version, although it has been sung by many including Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. This slow song keeps up with the “slow-fast-slow-fast” kind of theme in the album when it comes to the order of the songs. And in the same lines the next song, which is again a cover of the original Dinah Washington/Brook Benton song “Baby (You‟ve Got What It Takes)” is a nice foot-tapping number with Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings. “At This Moment”, originally sung by Vera Billy and The Beaters, would kind of make you stop and sigh, and think of how desperate and helpless love can make you at times. “Stardust”, yet another immensely popular love ballad is the next track in the album and Buble with Naturally 7, has done justice to this song originally recorded way back in 1927 by Hoagy Carmichael and sung and re-sung by many after that. The last track “Whatever It Takes” with Ron Sexsmith, is an easy number, and sounds more Bublé
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than any other track in the album because of the signature beat, or maybe because something in it reminds me of “Quando, Quando, Quando”, another of my Buble favorites. The very name suggests that this time Bublé has come up with a tribute to the roller-coaster of emotions that love is. A song for every mood, as I would like to put it. Remember those compilations of love songs that would flood the market pre-Valentine‟s Day, around a decade ago when cassettes still ruled the day and CDs were just an extravagant option for the unwise spendthrift? “Crazy Love” might as well be another one, with Michael Bublé adding to the “feel” of it, with his amazing voice. Listen to it if you are in love, and even if you aren‟t, because this one would make you want to fall in love. Celebrate the feeling of being together, or learn to love the pain that comes with heartbreak, too. Because love is, afterall, crazy.
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Book Review: And Thereby Hangs a Tale -
Manjil P. Saikia Title: And Thereby Hangs a Tale Author : Jeffrey Archer ISBN-10: 0230531458 ISBN-13: 978-0230531451 Binding: Paperback Publishing Date: 13 May 2010 Publisher: Macmillan Number of Pages: 400 Language: English Rating: Jeffrey Archer has a knack of delivering one bestseller after another with his pristine writings. And this time was no different. The latest Archer offering “And Thereby Hangs a Tale” of 15 enticing and very tasty short stories served right in your plate can hardly be ignored mush less given a cursory glance. Archer proves once again why he is one of the greatest living short story writers of our times; and it would be highly unfair to compare him with anyone else.
Believing in the adage that everyone amongst us might not have a book in them, but almost everyone has at least a short story, Archer has mixed his collection with both real and fictional inspiration. A short story has no clear cut demarcation so he takes the liberty of extending his stories up to even 50 pages when the demand arises while some stories are as short as 10 pages. But whatever may be length it can be guaranteed that each one of the story will leave you spellbound and craving for more. Be it the Irish gentleman who gets lucky or the Indian love duo, each and every one of the characters will bring you closer to the plot as well as inspire you to guess what might happen next. All in this entire book will give you thrill and excitement after any dull day‟s work and would be a worthwhile expenditure if you like the vintage Dumas‟ sort of short stories. However one recurrent theme of some of the stories are that they seem at times incomplete and invites the seasoned readers to guess what might have happened next.
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I – proud to be an Indian- North East Indian -
Mani Padma
I am an Indian- from North East India, more specifically from Assam and in spite of some adverse incidents that are attributed to us as Indians or North East Indians, I am not ashamed nor do I regret being one. Before you accuse me of having separatist sentiments, please hear me out patiently. I am an Indian, was an Indian, and always be one. Nothing can change that, but if I add that I belong to the North Eastern part, it does not make me a lesser Indian. It is as innocuous as saying I am from Anand Vihar, Delhi, or Rajajipuram, Lucknow or Rajaji nagar, Bangalore.Now tell me, is saying : you are from Anand Vihar Delhi : a separatist statement? It is just a …statement. Oh no! I will not go over the top in its praises by saying how proud and blessed I am to belong there. I need not certify that , do I? Well I am contented and satisfied, as satisfied as being an Indian, to belong to the north East.. Of course I do have my “system bashing” moments for both India and Northeast and „tch tch‟ thoughts but tell me who doesn‟t at one point of time or other? Which child does not have an occasional tiff or complains against his / her parents. But that does not end a relationship, does it? And, about the accusation of exploitation and counter accusations of terrorism and aggression, well that is a matter beyond the comprehension of my pea sized brain. The so called “internal policies and politics” is simply beyond the scope of this article but here I would just like to add that – An evil ideation or regressive thought is an individual “thing” and cannot be generalized to any caste , community, state or country. It is of course a different thing if those individuals with an evil mind or regressive thoughts manage to project it as a communal or regional ideology by sheer brute power.- But if the origin is traced, it still remains an individual ideology only. So coming back to what I originally wanted to say. Yes! Sorry ! I haven‟t yet come to my subject. All that I had so far stated was just a build up to what I wanted to analyze today. ( Don‟t worry. It will not be a lengthy one) It is an analyses of the reactions and counter reactions, evoked by the statement “ I am from North East India” Usually five type / categories of reaction occurs. First- : Oh reall? ( eyes twinkling, with a huge animated smile) That‟s nice Aha! Kamakhya Temple, Assam Tea, Cherrapunji, Tawang .. etc. isn‟t it? Second- : Oh really? ( amazement written large in face) Is it true that there are cannibals? Will we get killed the moment we step over there? Third – : oh North East! There they eat anything that moves. Backward people!( with a huge mocking smile) Fourth – So? Duh! Don‟t know what you are speaking of and Don‟t care. Fifth – (Benign smile in place)Great! The first reaction is of course the most encouraging and warm response. It really gladdens the heart to know that he/she does care and is willing to know more about us. Of course here I have to admit that there are some people amongst us , who snootily reply to some one‟s eager query of „Are you from such and such place?” by a haughty “ I am an Indian” Hell! I know you are an Indian, but my dear fellowman, the other person is not trying to push you out of the greater picture called India. He/She is just trying to
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appreciate the region you belong to. Nothing bad in that, I think. A vast country with diverse regional and geographical differences will obviously have diverse and unique culture and tradition depending on that. You cannot avoid that but that again does not prevent us from being assimilated into a greater whole without losing our uniqueness. Now, coming back to the second reaction, it is not malicious but rather of pure amazement and a result of certain misinformation. And though the instant counter response is of shock and indignation at such insinuation, if you come to think of it, the questioner is not exactly at fault. He/ She was just misinformed and there is still curiosity and wonderment to know more about the north east. – He is interested –He / she care. Third reaction :- is just a declaration by an all knowing soul who was misinformed and one who did not bother to clarify. Counter reaction will be vehement denial (obviously) Some what aggressive (can‟t really blame for it) which may sometimes result in a heated argument. But before going full blast on Mr. Know All, just have a look at reaction no 4. Isn‟t reaction no 3 better than reaction no 4. Reaction no 4 is a dead end. The person is simply not interested from where you are, what you are, your plus points / minus points. He / she would not care less if you said North East India is actually a part of Timbuctoo. You would be an alien for all it mattered.- And that is sad! Very sad! The connection is lost. Communication blocked. A dead relationship. In that way reaction 3 is better, in that the person at least cared enough ( though in a negative way) to remember that North East region exists. A little step forward from us to welcome them and he/ she will be there too. The fifth reaction is an ambiguous one. You really don‟t know what the person might have meant. It could mean nothing and he or she had just half ear on what you were saying. It could be the polite version of reaction 4, or it could be- that‟s great I would like to know more but you have to start first. But since the person pasted a benign smile on his/ her face, lets give him/her the benefit of doubt and assume that he/she is interested. So what exactly is my inference from the above. No I am not an expert nor a wise person, but what I feel is a gut feeling or a feminine instinct of the key being information distribution and two way communication. Nothing new , I know but maybe nothing new simply for the reason that this might be the only key. North East India is an amazing place which has so many fascinating sights, interesting phenomenon, flora and fauna, I mean one can go on and on about it. Kamakhya temple, a Shaktipeeth and a holy shrine and as per legends this is the place where Godess Sati‟s yoni fell after her self sacrifice and Lord Shiva‟s dance of destruction. During the Ambubaci in Summer, the menstruation of Godess Kamakhya is celebrated and as an amazing phenomena, the water in the main shrine runs red with ferrous oxide during this period. Majuli – the largest river Island in the world- The world can you imagine that? Then the one horned rhino, found only in and only in Kaziranga. The flora – rare orchids uniquely found in the North East . More than 700 types!!
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Mawsynram in Meghalaya- the place with the highest rainfall., Tawang- breathtaking high altitude Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.. And they are just waiting for you to be rediscovered. But only thing posing as a barrier is misinformation about the inhospitable situation. Inadequate information regarding the things of interest – so inadequate that it simply does not excite people. Earlier due to remoteness of the area , the region was unknown, but in today‟s technologically advanced age this cannot be an excuse isn‟t it? . It will be more our discredit if we can not bring before you the true North East. We are eager to do so, but you have to take a step forward too. Information exchange is a two way process. If we are eager to show you the true North East , so are we to know more about you and your region. and that is possible only when we will be able to communicate without any sort of mistrust or disdain. Nothing separatist in that I guess. It is plain Unity in Diversity. So what do you say? We have taken our first step, are you ready to come forward to meet us?
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Flooded Memories -
Mapra Duo
It was raining so hard that it felt as if a river was flowing from heaven to earth. At last it stopped. I was reading in my bedroom when I heard sounds of cry. I rushed down to see gushes of water coming down from the window. I woke up but the nightmare still continues. Note: 55 Fiction is a type of micro-fiction conceived by Steve Moss of New Times. To know more about it click here.
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Last Gift -
Mr. Pramathesh
(* Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction and it has nothing to do with real life. All characters are fictional and any resemblance to any person alive or dead is purely coincidental. *) We were meeting after a long time. But, instead of telling about our interesting stories in all these years, we were quiet and neither of us knew what the other had gone through to make them so quiet. We were sitting in the half constructed bridge and watching the sunset and a myriad of thoughts were going through both our minds. I had known Sophia for the past 35 years. We were childhood friends. After the sunset, I dropped Sophia at her home. On my way back I was wondering what might have happened that made the bubbly Sophia so quiet. We were childhood friends. I, Sameer was sent to boarding school when I was in class VI. After Class XII when I came back, I was 17 and she was 16 and both of us were in the pinnacle of youth. I proposed to her but she refused saying that she never thought of me in that manner. I thought that was the most stupid reply she could ever give but did not say anything. I tried to compose myself and said, "Okay! As you say! But I will wait for you till my last breath. If you ever feel that I can be of any use to you do say and don't hesitate for a while, I will be there without causing you any problem." It was a very clichéd dialogue, but that was the best a person can do when he is heart-broken. Then I went to study engineering and she went for medicals. After engineering I got a job in IS Tech. Someone told me that she got married to a doctor. I did not know more details; neither did I try anything to know more. We did not meet for the next 10 years. One day I met her in a marriage party and I must say she was looking as beautiful as she was 10 years before. She was very happy with her life; at least it seemed like that. I also met her husband. "Girls always know, when they have better options", I thought. He was good looking and very interesting to talk and he settled so early in life. He had progressed in overall. I was happy that Sophia was happy. But, somewhere in the back of my mind, I had memories that were not exactly making me happy. "LOSER!!!”, I felt like shouting to myself but resisted from doing any such thing. Well, another ten years had passed. We had met after a long time. Time passes so easily, and we don't even feel it, actually we don't have enough time to think about it. After yesterday's meeting, I was very uneasy. So today, I went straight to her home. I wanted to surprise her. Well, it was a surprise but she did not seem to like it exactly, but anyways welcomed me in. We were both silent for a while. "Why is there so much of a silence? Where is her husband? Her in-laws?", so many questions popped into my mind. After a while, I said, “Why don't all of you join me for a lunch tomorrow? And it is a Sunday!". Sophia did not reply. After a while she said, "I live here alone! Last year all of them died within a month...", and she got lost in her thoughts. I had the greatest shock of my life. I did not know what to say. I have known about her kid's death. He was 14 years old when he died. He fell off from a moving city bus, while returning 14
from tuition. It was 2 years back. It was a huge tragedy, but this was gross pain to lose all the family members within a month. "I am sorry!", I exclaimed. I wanted to console her, but I was in terrible loss of words. . "Why are you sorry? You did not offend me. It was my fate who betrayed me." "Look Sophia, I don't know about the depth of the grief that you underwent. And I don't want to know about it also, but that is Life and since you are still not dead, you will have to live it. You have no other choice other than moving ahead in life." Sophia looked at me and gave a meek smile. I could not understand why was she smiling, perhaps it has been a long time since someone screamed at her. "Stop smiling! I mean I want you to smile but, but .....", I stopped. "Err... What am I saying?", I thought. After a while, both of us broke into laughter. But, she started crying. I felt that she should be let to cry and drain out all her anguish. I have always felt that crying helps. "Okay! What is there for food?", I asked after a while, trying to lighten up the situation. She wiped her tears and said, "Nothing! You came without notice." "Where is the best restaurant in the town? Today it is your Birthday right? You will have to treat me!" Sophia was amused and said, "Although it is not my birthday, I will treat you." The days had passed and Sophia was back to normal. One day Sophia said, "Do you remember, you proposed me once?" I was surprised to know that she remembered. "Well, I do!", I tried to keep it short. "Well,... do you still love me?", she asked. "Why do you want to know?", I asked. In the back of my mind, I was wondering what might be in her mind. "I was wondering why are you still unmarried.", she replied. "You raised the standards of my choice.", I replied with grin trying to avoid the topic. "Well, so we should now look for a girl that meets your standards." "That is next to impossible!" "Well, I suppose I know my standards and I also suppose that it is high time that you should get married." "I thought about it but now I am old. Next Independence Day, I will be 40." "So????" "Is it necessary to talk about it right now?", I tried best to avoid the topic not being sure about what she has in mind. 15
"Yes!", she replied. "Look! Life has not being easy to me either. But, now I have learned to forget the past and move ahead. But, moving ahead doesn't necessarily mean to pursue the same path." Sophia was stunned wondering if it was the same Sameer who brought her from the shadows of grief. I suppose she did not dare to ask as I did not ask her past. Or, perhaps she did not understand the last line. That might also be a reason to keep quiet. "I need a friend in this point of life. " I said suddenly. "Can you elaborate on this?" "I have very less time left! 2 months at maximum, but those are too high hopes." "What????", she could not believe her ears. I showed my reports and said, "I actually came for treatment from you. My doctors told that you are the best in this field. They also told me about some part of your tragedy. They were not sure to send me to you. It is only when I told them that you are my childhood friend, they let me come. I thought, anyway I will be dead and doctors can only extend my life. So, I tried my best to hide this fact from you." "THEN WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME NOW?", she yelled. She was crying now and perhaps thinking that what enmity fate has with her. I felt sorry for her. "My last wish is that you will be brave and always smile till your last breadth.", I said all of a sudden. How stupid of me. "Oh! Stop that crap, and let me see what I can do� and she started analysing the reports. She was one of the leading doctors who specialised in it, but she stopped practicing after her child's death. I was thinking if I had to die what better way to die than die at her hands. I was cursing myself for overlooking the emotional trauma that Sophia might go through awaiting my death. I have always been so stupid. Sophia was cursing herself as much of the time was wasted. One of the good thing about Sophia was that she was never carried off by emotions. The emotions attached only made her push her limits. I was hospitalised immediately. After a few days, I felt better. She was happy that I was progressing; at least it seemed like that. She was fighting with death and it is no easy fight. With each passing day, death was nearer and she had to make an extra effort to save me. One day when I was looking at the calendar, I came to know that 3 months have passed. Voilà , Sophia extended my life. Now, each day is a bonus day for me. This gave me enough hope and it was proving an advantage for Sophia. I now feel that I can be cured of this deadly disease. Today, I took release from the hospital, I had sufficiently improved. I still feel weak but now, I hope that I would be cured. Sophia gifted me with hope. She also gifted me with a friend that I have ever longed for. Today, we are sitting in the same bridge which has now been completed, viewing the sunrise of a new morning.... 16
Through the Lens -
Saumarjyoti Borah
ground to perfection magnificent coffee beans become ambrosia -
Anonymous
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Horrorscope (July 1, 2010 – July 14, 2010)
Aries- You will try all tricks in your book to take some unauthorized leaves from your work place. Force won‟t work , charm will. In case of personal relationships , it will be the other way round. Force will work on you. Taurus- Your better half will try to convince you that you are stubborn, and the harder he/she will try , more stubbornly you will deny it. Some arguments are best lost. Gemini-Another failed association and you will be wondering why. Simple ! Because you are like quick silver and it is difficult to hold your attention for long.. This fortnight will not be a dull one. Your dual ness ensures that. Cancer –The weather will be just perfect for you this forthnight. You will be having some memorable „ only me” moments . enjoy while the going lasts. Leo- Your ego will take a heavy beating when almost all your predictions will go wrong. Be it football , weather or even the whodunit which you were planning to watch with your friends. So it will be better to keep one‟s mouth shut and ears open. Virgo- “Tussling” times ahead for Virgos. Be it between your work or home, mother or your spouse, girlfriend/boyfriend or friends, even tussle for the remote of your television set, you will be caught in a tussle throughout the fortnight. Life couldn‟t be more hectic than this. Libra- You will be caught off balance by a very tempting and attractive prospect this time.- Be it a new Guru for the spiritual, a new scrip for the investors or a new girl/ guy for the romantic at heart. Scorpio- You will feel very possessive about one of your material possessions, so much that you will be neglecting your near and dear ones for it. Difficult times ahead. Saggitarius- Your sweet temperament will attract people in droves.- Make way- the new agony aunt/ uncle is here! But try not to get too involved with your subjects. Capricorn: – Try to keep your strategy for your top priority project, a secret. It is quite good and if anybody gets a whiff of it, they will steal it. But there is no need to act paranoid either. Aquarius :- You will be perplexed at the latest development in your life which will leave you wondering why the sudden change when everything was going on smoothly? Nothing new this fortnight for you. You will still be wondering at the end of the next fortnight. Pisces :- A “hurricane” is about to enter your life, changing your orderly, neat and disciplined lifestyle into total mess and chaos. But you will enjoy each moment of it. Sometimes mess is fun.
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