Guess That Bird?

Time to Guess That Bird! Do you know the bird in the image? If yes, leave your answer in the comment box. If no, you can always make a guess. Take your chances. Come back later to see the correct answer. Let the game begin..! 

Turning Stones

He sat there with legs dipped not in the sea but on the stones. They looked so differrent like 'starfish' and he loved the coolness they were offering to his tired body. It was a long day full of fuss. He hates his boss for making his life hell but it already had been so since Parampara, a girl he loved truly and honestly, deserted him. He sometimes sits here and wonder what turns his life would have taken had she been still there. He keeps imagining how it would have felt to come back home to her everyday but she is gone. She never gave a reason or even said a word ..just left.. and he had never forgiven her for that. And for some reason his thoughts are wandering to her today no matter how hard he tried not to think about her she was on his mind all day. Suddenly a ball hit him at the back of his head, annoyed, he turned to look for the one who is making his already bad day, worse. He stopped dead with his breath held as he saw a kid of 5 standing right behind him with his big beautiful eyes drenched in fear and concern. He looked oddly familiar like a shade of his own reflection, "I am hallucinating", he thought. 

"May I have the ball please?"

He smiled, how Parampara would always correct him in the use of can and may. As he handed away the ball to him he tried to strike a conversation but the child shies away. 

"Siddharth, Siddharth"

Damn he would recognize this voice even in his death and the way she used to call his name. Is she here??...for him?? No can’t be, he had not seen her in 5 years. The last he knew of her was when she walked out on him. He could see her faint outline at a distance. He held his breath as she walked closer to him.

"Siddharth"

"Mom", the child sucked in his breath, and that shook him off back to reality. 

He felt disappointed she wasn't here for him. He saw in awe as the child ran back to her, held her hand and literally dragged her back to him. She was so obviously surprised. They kept looking at each other like they both have seen ghosts.

"Mom, may I please make castles on the beach", the kid pleaded. 

"Okay but don't you dare mess up your clothes". 

"Okay mom", he smiled and she ruffled his hair.

"Mom", he said in a mocking annoyed tone as he ran his fingers into his hairs to comb them back.

This gesture again oddly reminded him of himself. She kept looking at the child as he ran away off her vision and he kept looking at her trying to ascertain he ain't daydreaming. She was a bit uncomfortable. She knew he has questions to ask. He was feeling different sort of discomfort. He felt a tug at his heart like someone is squeezing breath out of his air tunnel. He felt a deep something inside and wasn’t sure if it is hate or love.

"How are you?" Her voice was still as husky as he remembered.

"Alive" he said hoarsely. 

An odd silence spread between them.

"Why don’t you visit my home day over coffee?", so she still remembers he is a coffee lover.

"Sure".

"Okay, how about coming saturday?".

"Fine".

"okay, I must get back to my son, siddharth, you have met, she pointed in the direction he went few minutes ago".

"Yeah". 

"Okay". 

"Okay". 

He inquired about her discreetly just out of curiosity. He was guilty pleased to find she is a single mother, ’looks like the man she left him for deserted her too’ he thought. 

Saturday came crawling. He was told to wait for a while, as she is out with her son for a walk. He took his time going around in the aesthetically decorated home, the hall downstairs and 3 rooms upstairs, her bedroom, her son’s bedroom and a room that was locked. He wondered what’s in there. He heard some noises and hurriedly came back down. She looked flushed and her son was getting doubled laughing over something. They made a lovely sight to see. She abruptly stopped as she spotted him. She sent the kid upstairs as she asked me to wait till she makes the coffee. He had always loved her coffee. He strayed into kitchen after a while. They talked about their  lives...caught up on past...never once she mentioned any other man in her life. 

“Parampara”, he said in hushed voice. She knew what was coming, "Why did you leave me? and where is the father of your child?" 

"I thought you must have figured out by now". 

He gasped as the realization struck him.

"Oh My God! How dumb I have been. No wonder he reminded me of myself in so many ways. He is my son." 

"Why then?" he asked almost suffocated with pleasure.

"Because you were not ready".

She had asked me playfully how do I feel about being a father. I went into a rage at her question ink and had asked her not to think about it even in jokes. She had gone absolutely still and no conversation took place anytime later till he went to office. And by the time he came back she was gone.

"But I had limited resources then...I wasn't ready to run a family...I wasn't ready to marry you let alone have a child". 

“I know, she said in a subdued understanding tone, "I didn’t want to be a burden on you, and I wanted to keep our child so I decided to walk out on you I...", she turned back only to see him sitting on his knees, holding in hands a ring he had been wearing. 

"I have one more question, Will you marry me?" 

She couldn't have said no. 

Dreams and Desires

Dreams and Desires
Courtesy: Google

I don't have dreams

just compelling desires. 

They leave me sleepless

burn like fire 

catching me restless

holding me at edge

like a question unanswered

or as an insane philanderer. 

It chases me

until I live it

until I turn it true

and believe it. 

No, i don't have dreams

just compelling desires

China at the Olympics

It was in the year 1952 when flag of the People's Republic of China was raised for the first time in Olympic history at the Helsinki. They participated in only one event and couldn't manage any medal.  However, they din't paticipated till 1984 'cos of the dispute over the political status of China. Lets take a look at the medal tally of china in the olympics for last 5 years. 1992 Barcelona: China won 16 gold, 22 silver & 16 bronze and with a total of 54 medal they were at fourth position in the table. 1996 Atlanta: China won 16 gold, 22 silver & 12 bronze and with a total of 50 medal they were at fourth position in the table. 2000 Sydney: China won 28 gold, 16 silver & 14 bronze and with a total of 58 medal they were at third position in the table. 2004 Athens: China won 32 gold, 17 silver & 14 bronze and with a total of 63 medal they were at second position in the table. 2008 Beijing: China won 51 gold, 21 silver & 28 bronze and with a total of 100 medal they were at first position in the table. In only eight participation in the summer olympics they have managed a total of 385 medals that includes 163 gold, 117 silver & 105 bronze and is ranked at #7 in the all time Olympic games medal table.  The 2012 Olympics in London is scheduled to begin on 27th July and China is once again ready to dominate the medal table.  
But what's the truth behind this great performance? The children in China are scouted at a very tender age. They are tested to see if their bodies can withstand the demands of the sport. The majority of them don't make into it but those who are selected their training starts which is a life long process of becoming the best. At an age of 4 years they have to balance between a toilsome training schedule and a tough school routine and are allowed to meet their parents only at the weekends. This age is a lot earlier than when athletes from other countries start training and their training programmes also are  not as harsh as in China. However, not everyone from these sports training academy makes into the Olympics and win medals. They often suffer from unemployment and poverty. They can't do anything 'cos they have no skills. The over training also results in health problem at the later stage of life.  Isn't this a cruel behavior on children and should constitute as child abuse?

The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well. 

The story of an IITian

Everyone in the country wants to be an engineer and when it comes to engineering there is one and only name on everyone's mouth - Indian Institute of Technology. It is a dream of every engineering aspirant to be a part of this prestigious institute. The reason:

• It is difficult to achieve and the challenges adds to its appeal. It is human nature that the thing which we find tougher looks more attractive to us.
• It sets the students apart from the rest of the society - they are viewed as a subject of envy and receives praise and applause from all around that gives a sense of euphoria.
• It is considered that it gives a great start to the career 'cos companies compete each other to hire IIT graduates.

But are these reasons actually true? or it just seems so until one gets inside? I recently read about an IITian and that presents a different inside story. 

The question arises: Is it worth studying in IIT? Of course the answer is YES! But everyone in IITs does not make it big and everyone not in IITs doesn’t end it up here. 

There is a LIFE beyond IITs.