Woke up to the rumbling thunder.
Streaks of lighting, lit my bedroom.
The air conditioner and the All out went -put.
O! a power cut...
I fidgeted for the bolt.
I wanted a breather of fresh air.
As the portals of my door opened...
Flashes of lightening greeted me.
There were some spatter of rain drops from the sky.
No breeze,...a lull of a kind.
Streaks of lighting, continued.
Suddenly I lost my interest to watch the downpour.
Got into MY beb-stead and woke up to the buzzer...
Everything was planned. We boarded the flight to Delhi. Things were absolutely fine for fifteen days.Then a bath with cold water, played a spoil sport.I had an attack of pneumonia..I could not breath.I had to be admitted in the hospital...when I regained my sense , it dawned on me I had suffered lateral paralysis.
All our plans were thwarted. I could not bear the looks of little Gunu...all her plans were gone. Until some days I could not understand anything. I had to endure the body pain and the silent eyes that watched me...why-o-why?
Now it is two and a half years...still grappling with my paralysed fingers...assuring myself everyday that the fingers will gain strength......
FORGETTING
My forgetfulness puts me to shame.
This is for the third time-that
My geyser has gone for repair,
I feel ashamed ,
Why do I keep forgetting
Forget to put off the switch.
Shame and a sense of helplessness engulfs me...
For once I am feeling happy.
Will tread the lines of teaching.
Will get a pittance as salary.
No qualms...
Just a feeling, that I will be with students
For sometime...
A feeling of dejavu.
I am a senior citizen, yet to learn about the ways of the world.Somehow got through my teaching years successfully, could add some accolades to my name.
I failed when I had to put some reason to my years. What do I call that foolishness?
I did not port my Reliance number, and did not know that my NPS was linked to that number. My husband paid visits to the bank several times, but they only showed the portal...FROZEN..this stretched for four long years.
My youngest brother passed away during this time. I was feeling guilty that I could not be present during his cremation.. I could not sleep and my blood pressure shot up.
My account stood frozen and I had no access to my account.. the amount was 50,000.One fine day I discovered my number was allotted to somebody else.Those people refused to give me my OTP, thus I started to have regular correspondence with the banks.
RBI, SBI, FINANCE MINISTER, PRIME MINISTER . Grievance cell of NPS.Frequent calls to NSDL.My students, friends, colleagues.There was a time, when I lost patience.
Family members were with me for some time, they too got tired , did feel the stares of those accusing eyes...and I could read , foolish woman what did you do?
My Betu was concerned very much. But like CASABIANCA I resolved to stay put with my fight.Anju(my student) forwarded an address and asked me fill in a FATCA clearance form, dropped one to the Maharashtra office as well...things started working. My phone number was updated, and my account was un frozen. PHEW!
Caesar's words...'friends, Roman's and countryman came to my rescue.Finally the amount was credited to my account.At times when I sit alone these lines haunt me..
'for want of a shoe the horse was lost, for want of a horse the knight was lost, for want of a knight the battle was lost, ... No one ever lamented, upon seeing his unshod horse, that the kingdom would eventually fall because of it....' In this case it was a goddamn mobile number.
...but I was able to save my fall...
