Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Hear My Silent Hands

Picture from the net***


When I woke up, the sky had opened up above me like a vast canvas. It was a beautiful day, with gorgeous white-hot sun cresting in the horizon. Beyond my room…the shimmering trellis of dwarf Poinciana, Calleas, Gul Mohar in their varied hues were scraping the edges of my window pane. A flock of parrots crossed silently fanning the fiery crimson, white, yellow and orange blossoms. And this sudden gust of breeze interrupted my thoughts; erasing lines between me and the Nature.

 I decided to leave my window open and walked to my Mom’s carved armchair, passing through her photograph that my late father had taken once in the terrace. The sunlight playing mysteriously across her face, directed me on her stoned eyes for the first time... now, at the age of ten, it was as if I had a kind of epiphany. I realized suddenly, that my mother was a little different than most...

Darkness clouded my mind making the beautiful morning sad, stilling all that was so comradely.

 I stood still, taking deep breaths while the world moved around me, the faint and soft scents from the flowering trees drfited towards me like fumes of peace--- a spicy delicacy that often, me and my mother shared together--- For my mother, the colors of life remained eternally drab and gray even in sun struck places, and for me, my numb tongue remained coiled forever; yet, we progressed. How?

 Sense of perceptions and bonhomie allowed us to grow with a kindness that expected nothing in return; and then the other active sensory perceptions compensated further for our physical limitations. And after that happened, our lives got connected to everything else…perhaps that is the luxury of being born with impairments! All my emotions started bursting out suddenly, as if I’d been holding them back for a long time.

 I was sitting still, with my arms folded around my knees, and woke up to a shadow blazing in through the eastern door and it was my silhouetted mother standing in the centre of light. Wind blew some stray strands of hair across her face... I looked on, walked up to her and gently turned her towards the window, and made her sit on my bed.

 I ran my fingers lightly over her shielded eyes. She didn’t speak, neither did I….I started to sketch everything that was beautiful around us, imprinting every detail carefully, deftly on her forearms with my fingertips. Her lips were quivering, but, she held back the words, as they were of no use for me… tears trickled down my eyes for the first time. Mother turned towards me, sensing my pain, the lines on her face started growing deeper now. She bit her lips, and I latched on to her like an infant. She nodded, tears welled up in her eyes too...the love was within us all the time, but, its only renewal came today from giving it away...

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At one point of time, I was working with an NGO and gained access to the world of physically challenged children....
Allow yourself to feel what they feel, experience what they have experienced. Allow yourself to bond with them....bet, you'll be changed forever !!



40 comments:

  1. मंत्रमुग्ध करती हुई सुन्दर रचना

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    Replies
    1. Shashiprakash S,
      Welcome to my space :)
      Thank you so much for dropping by, for your appreciation and encouragment..Hope to see you more on these pages...

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  2. Touching!! Theirs is a separate silent yet beautiful world!

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    1. Thanks a bunch...jaish!! I am glad you heard the UNHEARD...:)))
      God be with you in all that you do...
      All humans face challenges, it's just that people with disabilities face different challenges.

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  3. hm...
    humane touch...
    beautifully narrated.i dono what to say,
    well let's hope..
    let's feel their feel

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    Replies
    1. Deepak,
      Thank you for such a delightful comment. I've come to believe that it's the wishes and blessings that play the key role (behind the scenes) in taking you to your goal... And therefore let's remember and feel them everyday!
      Thanks so much :))

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  4. don't know why it took so long for me to find your blog. you are one heck of a writer :)

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    1. Debajyoti !! Thank you so much for visiting again and thank you for expressing your admiration.. and I just hope to live upto the expectations.. :)))
      Do visit again please...

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  5. Intense, packed and powerful. Apparently enigmatic, but I believe I followed you as intended.

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    1. Umashankar,
      Welcome to my page :)
      It's a great feel to know that this sharing of experience was inspiring for the reader. I shared my story and I'm sure there are many other stories of this kind out in the world.
      Thanks for your wonderful words of encouragement. Hope to see you more often on these pages :))
      Thanks a bunch !

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  6. Lovely post. You have captured the true emotions. :)

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    1. Dear Neha, Thank you so much for your kind words and the perceptive comment...:))
      Am glad that you found this visit worthwhile. Pleasure having you here...always :))

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  7. Replies
    1. Rajesh!

      Pleased to see you here... thanks a lot for your encouraging comment :)

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  8. You are an amazing story teller Panchali.

    Each story of yours is so vivid, evocative!

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    Replies
    1. Purba!

      Thank you for the pat on the back... I wish I could tell you how good it feels to be appreciated by one with discernment. :)
      Thanks for ur valuable comment.

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  9. Once again a lovely, thoughtful and very sensitive piece! You are able to paint that slightest of human emotion, the littlest of human change so vividly through your words. Loved it Panchali!

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    1. Bhavana!
      It is so much like you to notice, appreciate and absorb the nuances of the story...I am so pleased! Thanks for your lovely comment...:)))

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  10. Replies
    1. Rachna!

      Lovely...! You've inspired me...Thanks a LOT for being here...:))) Do come again...

      Delete
  11. beautifully captured..loved the line "the faint and soft scents from the flowering trees drfited towards me like fumes of peace"

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    1. Jasmeet !!
      Bang on gurl...! You've picked up the most important line of the piece...:)Ahh! I like what you likes....:))))

      Thanks a bunch for that delightful comment. You have brought miles of smiles to my lips this beautiful night... :))Thank you!

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  12. That was simply brilliant. You have portrayed so beautifully a world that we hardly understand or even try to understand. Such richness of thoughts, emotions and words! It felt happy after reading this one. :)

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    1. Raj!
      Pleasure seeing you here always!
      Thanks for your encouragement:)) I wish I could tell you how happy I feel that for you the effect of the various emotions of the story were the same as they were for me. ...!! I am glad you enjoyed reading this piece...:)))
      Thanks a ton!!

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  13. Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Nagini. Truly appreciate your kind words of appreciation...:))

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  14. I read it two times. I was picturing the morning you painted here. And I was numb when you started to describe the mother. However, following phrase brought mixed emotions,
    'perhaps that is the luxury of being born with impairments!'

    Touched me to the core.

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    1. God Bless you, Saru. I am surprised at your words! Coming from a writer of your stature...it means a lot to me..:)) Thank you..

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  15. Evocative piece of writing!! Finely composed with.

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    1. Akshay! Your presence here has thrilled me. Thanks a lot :))

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  16. Wow that was so beautifully narrated... powerful imagery, was like watching a short movie which was in brilliant colour in the beginning and then fading into black and white! ... superb writing Panchali!!

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    1. Magiceye !! The end was a bit dark surely, but one never knows what fissures stay hidden in their souls...!! Thanks for the implied kudos...am so pleased :-))
      Thanks!

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  17. I am so glad i came to this post through your comment-your play with words matches the depth of your sensitivities-excellent.

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    1. Indu! What a lovely comment..! I am so glad you took the trouble to come and write a comment following my comment. I appreciate ur effort deeply. :))
      Hope to see you more here :) Thanks a bunch!!

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  18. loved the imagery you have used it added essence to the post,well narrated and moving post .

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    1. Alka,

      Thanks. Glad you liked it... coming from you its a HUGE compliment....

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  19. She nodded, tears welled up in her eyes too...the love was within us all the time, but, its only renewal came today from giving it away..


    Dear Panchali
    Had posted my comments on the first day but look s like it did not get registered--the lines copy pasted above are so true love is one emotion or blessing which can be felt and which increases only when given away.

    very beautiful story as always
    love
    rajni

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    1. Dear Rajni,

      Aww...I missed that comment. Wonder, what happened to dat..?
      Thanks for rereading the whole thing again...readers like you are such a blessing. Thanks a lot for coming by... :)))
      hugz
      Panchali

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  20. Dear Di,

    I have a lot to catch up. I am so happy to read this again. How beautifully you write :)

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    1. Good to see you back, Ghazala:)) Yes, take it easy...the blogs are all here...for eternity ! :D
      Glad you came to reread it!! Thanks!

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