Playing Post-Man (Girl?) for the Post-Man!

"Post!"

Every month, my thrilled ten-year-old self would glide down the stairs two-at-a-time, beckoned by this call. The Post-Man, standing at the entrance to the quarters that we then lived in, would hold the monthly issue of the childrens' magazine I had subscribed to, with a beaming smile on his face.

"Thank you uncle!" I'd exclaim gleefully, as I receive it from him.

He'd smile affectionately at me, as he stood there organising the remaining bundle.

Being the curious child I was, I'd peep into the stack of posts, trying to find any which were addressed to my friends or to the people in the same block. If I happened to spot any of them from the said category, I'd offer to deliver them on his behalf.

The Post-Man uncle would then with a grateful smile, hand over the respective posts to me, as he sped on his way with a, "Thank you very much, Paapa!"

I would then proceed to diligently face the task ahead of me, (which was honestly just another excuse to bother my friends and visit my neighbours, and sometimes to make new friends), to deliver the posts addressed to them. It also made me joyous, having helped ease someone's tedious work, which left me feeling like I've done something good that day. Having delivered all the posts, I'd happily head home to the magazine waiting to be read.

Today, most of my subscriptions have become digital. My letters have evolved into instant messages and e-mails. There's high ease of access, timely delivery, and cost-efficiency.

And yet, the small joy of holding the magazine and inhaling its scent, after a month of waiting, is absent. That unique bond of affection between the Post-Man and I, is lacking. And most of all, I miss playing Post-Man to the houses in the neighborhood, which made my ten-year-old self feel important and welcome, when the recipients smiled and thanked me as I delivered their posts.

The thrill that, "Post!" invokes in me remains yet irreplaced by e-mails and instant messages.

-Pavithra Seshadri

Image courtesy: Google Images

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Sound of Moonlight

The lights begin to dim, as she walks in; Draped in silver threads, is her glowing skin. Like the quivering butterfly wings, Her eyelids flutter close, as she sings. Her voice resounds across the sky, Holding the triumph of a child’s first cry. The song is filled with joy and mirth, Like the music of a flower’s birth. So softly, the melody flows, Rustling their feathers as the nightingales doze. Enchanted by her beautiful beam, The stars around her blush and gleam. As she walks along the aisle, The waves rise to watch her smile. She sounds like the thrill of bedtime stories, And like laughter, free of worries. Like the curiosity in a child’s eyes, Like mischiefs and innocent lies. Like the mysteries that hide in the dark, Like the joyous cries of the skylark. She echoes the soft breaths of kids, As sleep begins to caress their eyelids. She voices the longing of lovers and their wistful sighs, As a ray of hope brightens the skies. The world is lost in the beauty of her song, Until anoth...

A Dream

I can't sleep peacefully anymore, Because every day ends with a reminder That you are not here. Yesterday, I dreamt of you, You were sitting beside me, In a room full of people. I was hugging you, With my head against your shoulder. Warm, light as a feather, I held you in my arms. I whispered something in your ear, And I heard you laugh, As lines of laughter hid your wrinkles, You seemed to grow younger, And I saw your beautiful smile once again. I looked up, No one else in the dream room Seemed to realise your presence. Doubt crept into my mind, How could you be present here, When you didn't exist anymore? When I looked again, You had disappeared. There one minute, gone the next, Just like on that fateful day. I woke up, Arms empty, heart heavy, And eyes filled with tears. - Pavithra Seshadri Image courtesy: Google Images

இது இயற்கையின் நேரம்!

நீலஉடை மாதவள்தன் நீண்ட கரங்களில் நீள்இழைகளை ஏந்தி நல்லுயிர்ச்சங்கிலி செய்திட்டாள் பூரிப்பில் ஆழ்த்துமதை பூமியெனவே விளித்திட்டாள் புவியதனுள் பிணைத்திட்டாள் பற்பல உயிர்களையும் பறவைகள் விலங்குகள் பூச்சிகள் தாவரமென பிணைப்புகள் பலப்பலவாம் பின்னிய சங்கிலியில் காலம் மாறியதாலது கருத்தது துருவாலே காற்றில் மண்ணில் கலந்ததாம் மாசதுவும் மரங்கள் வீழ்த்தி மானிடர் வாழ்ந்தனராம் புவியதன் மேனியதும் பொலிவிழந்து போனதுவால் இயற்கையெனும் மாதவளின் இயக்கம்மாறி போயிற்றாம் மானிடச் செல்வங்கள் மாஇடராய் ஆயினராம் பூங்காற்றின் மேனியதை பேரிரைச்சல் கிழித்ததுவாம் சத்தமின்றி சிலஇனங்கள் சிதைந்தும் போயினவாம் மின்னிய விண்மீன்கள் மின்விளக்கின் ஒளியதனால் மிளிர்வுதனை இழந்து மிகமங்கிப் போயினவாம் சீரிய மாதவளும் சீற்றம் கொண்டிட்டாள் சிறிய மானுடனின் செருக்கதை அழித்திடவே பஞ்சம் பெருவெள்ளம் படரும் நோய்க்கிருமியென பலப்பல துன்பங்கள் பெருகின மாந்தருக்கு தவறுணர்ந்த மானிடரும் தஞ்சம் தேடினராம் மாதவள் பாதம்வீழ்ந்து மன்னிக்கக் கோரினராம் "ஒன்றுபட்டு யாவருமிப்புவி ஓங்கச்செய்தல் வேண்டும் சங்கிலியை சீர்படுத்த சகலரும் முனைதல்வேண்டும் அங்கமா...

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