Sipra's Diary: " Literary Citizenship".

   Literary Citizenship.

How   long   I  will be a refugee

 Roaming around the periphery

  Of  literary garden   for  entry !

Seeking  asylum under some  shady tree;

Or a corner to join   similar souls like me!

Is there any hope to be welcomed by elite  angel

Or to get shower of blessing from Athena !

Surely 'nope nope, nope'  is the only answer. 

i

With electronic crown  adorned  in AI  devices 

 Athena replies with sigh "I am no more goddess!''

Pointing to her crown,  "IT  is your New  goddess!

 Online Whole-sale market is  getting ready to bless 

Whoever  will afford this crown on their  heads.

The new Digital village will be founded with lava 

On  the   archaic cemetery of  creative  sepulture.

                                                                     Sipra Roy

Sipra's Diary: Excerpt from "....In quest of Right Bride"

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 Finally at the age of his forty eight Suraj Bajoria decided  to  marry  'Desi' Indian  girl  from his own clan, own land of Rajasthan.

He shared this news first to his bosom friend and business partner Brijlal .

  Hearing this news Brijlal  screamed in cheers and dance with the wine-glass in hand,  hovering dramatically over his head ! 

 ... "So your 'eyes are opened' at last, hmm  !''  But who and how eyes get rid of enchantment from fantasy, color? Is it  betray, or loss of love?  

 Let us order first some strong whisky for guts before  celebrating  the emotional story!"

They were sitting in a  a corner table of casino bar of Las Vegas. The lighted swimming pool  was full of glamorous  bikini-bitches  with  playing eye-catching romantic games with their fans, and  toy-boys.

 Looking  casually at them,  through glass-wall  Suraj  replied smilingly, "nno, not any such spicy stories as you think." Suraj pitched the cigaret-butt in the astray to continue ,

..."It is just my decision. I earned huge wealth; I enjoyed the best physical pleasure that money can purchase last twenty six years ;  I am     now tired to sleep with  any  woman, whether new or old, glamorous or ugly!" 

Suraj stood up for washroom.  

Looking at his strong and stout manly structure, with sky-blue polo shirt and white  jeans  and Reebok shoes  Brijalal  appreciated ,"You still look not more than thirty-four/ five. Then pointing to his own pampered tummy he continued, 

"look! this is the contribution  of extra-care of my loving wife ."

Suraj: Let us go to my room.

Brij:   Why room ?  Here are lot of toilets to release !   

But he followed his friend unwillingly, as suraj  seemed to flee from the place in a hurry. But he gazed at the eye-catching swimming pool while walking  through the lounge.They came to the room  in roof-top sky-lounge  by elevator  . 

Coming back from washroom Suraj said to encourage his friend ,

"Hey buddy, don't lose your heart ;You will enjoy better the swimming pool -scenario from my window glass; look, here is also a  telescope, " he removed the  curtain  to have a clear view  of the   telescope .

Then turning to him said, "though  the purpose of telescope is to see the nature with its mountain desert etc and not for the bikini-beauties view, you know ! "

" I have to call now the waiter for dinner to give room-service." 

 He handed over the heavy book of menu to him .

"You will enjoy the drama of bikini-beauty  with delicious dinner along .....with my story !"

"Story?  What story?" 

Door bell knocks.

  With the door-bell the waiter entered  and took the order of dinner .

Suraj adjusted the angle of telescope to his friend's sofa and sat comfortably opposite to him . 

I saw the woman  on the swimming pool  with whom I slept  just two months ago  in Seattle.  

"a-aw! show me her , show me through the telescope !" After surveying the woman   Brij commented disappointingly," Umm, attractive figure but so black, .. darker than coal, just a burnt log ! 

At last you had this  one! what's  the interesting story about this black woman ?  Is she from Ghana or Kenya?"

Suraj ,"No, she is Brazelian  by birth but what is interesting of her that she is  really  amazon lady  as a sleeping partner!'"

Brij:  "Waow, go on!"

Suraj:  You know I avoid to meet  twice any 'same' woman.  Officially I maintained  my image as 'cle-an  gentleman'. My supplier agent knows that. But I met this woman twice before meeting her in Seattle . First in Philadelphia  and then in Chicago. I enjoyed  greatly her companion,  I nicknamed her as 'Cobra' to my  agent's 'list'. Last one year I didn't meet any other women . If she was not available then I optioned  'better to fast' . At one point I decided to 'own' her by marrying.  Again I hesitated to take any quick action; I was suffering in  the dilemma whether  such women are eligible to be 'wife' to a dedicated husband that I wished to be after marriage.

I paid my agent some 'advance'  three months ago and at last I met her in Seattle . I booked her for the whole day, not only for the night. I spent the 'day' with her first time and performed my job by phone . Every time  I was thinking to propose her, some  phone call was interrupting along with my hesitation.

 We spent a  wild  but pleasant  night, but still proposal remained pending! Next morning I had early flight to leave Seattle. It was surprising why a veteran womanizer like me was sweating a lot for simple marriage proposal to a known woman?.....

Then I decided I must tell her before leaving for airport. When I woke up in the morning, I saw my Cobra, fully dressed up , was sitting on the sofa.

I was happy to see Cobra waiting on the sofa . She always used to leave my room earlier than me, (as a precondition  with my agent ).

Giving  her a warm morning-kiss  I went washroom to  dress up . Getting ready I came near Cobra with greeting -smile on my face Cobra stood up in front me to ask , "when we are going to meet next?"

My heart danced in joy;"Yes darling , I want to tell  you  something more 'interesting'  on the way of airport."      

Cobra:"sorry , I can't accompany you ;I am waiting  for my next customer; He will reach shortly." 

Contacting eye to eye, Cobra asked with professional voice, "will you clear the dues to me before leaving ?"

Suraj stumbled  in  emotional quirk, but swallowed his feeling quickly and managed   firm      reply  in steady voice: 

"I always pay in advance, please contact the agent", he cleared his throat by coughing .

Cobra:  "I know that. I am asking money for the ' extra strokes you had  on me throughout the  day... I am  so tired !"

 Cobra twisted her body left and right to proof her exertion.

Suraj: with wide eyes repeated,"strokes"!

......the word hurled  to him as heart-stroke.

 Cobra's  mobile was ringing ;  she responded to the call:

   "  Good morning Mr Wrenstien! 

 I'm just waiting  in front of  the hotel-gate for you ."

A shaft of  joy  passed on her body like lightning which  affected  Suraj   pathetically  painful.

 The car  with dark glass-window came; no sooner  Cobra  slipped into the car  by waiving her hands ,  leaving  behind bewildered  Suraj. 

Few moments Suraj stood like statue until the waiting chauffeur  coughed softly.

Throughout his journey the word 'extra-strokes' hammered his brain;

 It was for the first time an unknown feeling of joy over the monotony of  physical  pleasure  was starting  to  sprout ;....he longed to nurture it by shifting himself to be planted in a new garden ....

but his dream shattered by such a harsh nasty word from the woman whom he thought by mistake  close to the heart !... It took time to ignore, to forget..... 

He cursed himself ....how was he so stupid to think  of 'marrying'  a woman who was available to anyone by money ?... while he spends the whole day with her  enjoying the  ecstasy, she was  counting in terms of money, like a pawn-shopper counts interest!"

Suraj lit a cigaret to smoke with whisky.

Brij :  Do you have still some weakness on her ?

Suraj: "No " came out simultaneously with the  strong blowing of a big     smoky ring  from the cigarette;.. .shaking  his head : not at all....

Brij: Then why do you avoid her? 

 You hide inside the room  to avoid  of not   being caught into her sight!   Brij continued.

I suggest you to end it by facing boldly.  If she confronts ,  pay her  all her dues and be free ! You have enough money to do that ."

Suraj:  To pay money is  easy for me,  but for penalty of delay, if she demands more 'strokes'........... I surrender ...........

Both  burst into laugh.

Suraj : She wouldn't accept losing me as  I paid her  highest ;the moment she will know the truth that I rejected her forever she will spread scandal against me which will be harmful for my business .

Brij: Let me share the other part of the story .....your "decision"

about marrying. 

While  pouring  another peg in his glass from the bottle, Brij said ",in this context  I remember a funny story of my life. But I will tell it later" .

With door-bell the waiter entered with the trolly of dinner.

Suraj waived his hand to leave .  The waiter left . 

"Both of our flight are before 10am. Mine is Jet-Blue , yours?"asked Suraj.

Brijj: It is Delta.  We must take early bed . Please ask the waiter to give us 'wake-up call'....

So next I will  meet you in your marriage party, right? Hope it will be enormous party in some luxurious hotel! Hmm,  great fun......knodding his head gently while sipping drinks.

Suraj: just opposite , far from  your expectation.  It will be a close party  of 20/25 guests, in my own flat of New York, not in any hotel.

Brijj:   Hey , thith ye inclit me -( Did you include me)?......

uttered distortedly as he was brushing his teeth.

Suraj smiled lovingly: you have to be manager in  my party; but let me chose the right bride, first.  After  a long decade I will be going in my native land in quest of right bride!  Instead of romance I have tons of anxiety, whether I will get what I wish! 

I have hired a matrimonial company who will provide me two experienced agents to escort me  from the airport .

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Sipra's diary: EVEN THE TINY WORM

        EVEN  THE TINY WORM .

Relaxing under the shower of washroom

 I casually glanced a tiny worm –of -centimeter 

Moving by the sidewall slowly, 

Like a well-fed gentleman

Taking  afternoon walk  in the  spring season.

Neither head nor tail could be identified from its body; 

But I  guessed its head by  the direction 

It was proceeding.

Within few moments  I recognized the worm--

 

I saw it in“60 minutes’ of TV show :

Their habitat two hundred miles deep

In African goldmines 

Where the scientists flocked, not for gold brick,

But to collect from the layers of the mines 

This specific specie

Who survived more than five thousand years, 

without air, water or sunlight! 

The scientists were captivated 

while collecting the sample of worms 

From the wall of mines   and wondering:

How do they proliferate without food air or sunlight!

“The worm  may 'proliferate!” startled me: 

 'so I must kill it.’ 

All on a sudden like a marathon participant 

It darted and vanished;

Somewhere in the thread-like line 

Between floor and the wall! 

 

I was bewildered :

How the message of my perilous thought 

Was received by the tiny specie? 

 We are covered in the atmosphere

 Under "One Consciousness",- truly matters !

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

Sipra's Diary: Poem :. " DEATH"

Prompt. :# How much are you affected by death of near   and dear ones.

Death! When did you have your first sting!

 

 Leaving home as I went college-hostel, 

 I often woke up   with whimpering, I remember    

 

At midnight by some nightmare :

That  Dad  left me for ever .

 

For a long time I couldn’t imagine 

 

To live without having  parent !..........

 

When I was in my thirty’s my father left 

 

Forever in own ancestor’s home .

 

My cousin brother took me direct 

 

To the burning Ghat  where  he laid,

 

With calm and cool peaceful face 

 

 Released from all mundane liabilities ! 

 

I touched for the last his icy-cold feet 

 

Without a single drop of  tear.

 

Since then I overcome fear of death.

 

I realized the fear of death is more 

 

Painful than actual  occurrence  of death.

I hear with grief from last three years, 

Loosing  some more near and dear ones.

But tolerance, patience made me courageous !

..................................................................................

 

 

Sipra's Diary :.......MEMORABLE MEAL>>>[..Feast of Fasting], 2026

 #(9)Memorable Meal> :( Feast of Fasting!)by Sipra Roy

Words=1065

 What a crazy prompt to some  septuageneration,

To write  about the' memorable  meal?  In this long 

Way of journey lots of meal have been taken  and forgotten!

Now for the sake of this prompt I need to walk in back gear,

And  successfully dig the memory of 'memorable meal';

It was on the eve of winter vacation when  I was in grade ten ,

Only Five  friends of us decided to arrange a picnic 

On the river bank which was not far from  the school.

We overcome the biggest issue to get permit from parents.

 "Picnic with only five friends?"moms commented:"so aberrant!" 

"What is your menu ,who knows cooking   among you?" 

Raka  answered "Simple menu of vegetables-KHICHURI

We will manage  ourselves, don't worry!"

We  collected  rice, lentil,  vegetables from our houses

Our  excitement knows no bound before the day of feast !

On the early morning we  set out with carry bags.

Renu's sister hailed "hey, wait!" came running to give us a match-box.

We joyfully kept the matchbox inside  the  bag, full of wood .

"Thank you. dear sister!"you are really cute .

 

 We reached the white sand-y beach of the rivulet.

 We began  to sing and dance, releasing the bags from hands 

Keya and Nina made a hearth with bricks collected nearby banks 

I and Raka went with bucket to fetch water from the river.

We five bent  to see our reflection on the bucket of crystal  water!

 Nina  as the eldest of the siblings had to help her mother.

She was little better than us to manage household affair

She called us to wash and fetch the rice and food staff to her.

First she put the rice and lentils in the boiling water of the pot

While we were busy in cutting cauliflower  peas and potato ;

We screamed  together to notice  the grains dancing in boiling water.

 Pushing the rest of log in the hearth Nina informed worriedly,

She needed some more logs for preparing the KHICHURI edible.

"O  not to worry! there are plenty of branches under  the trees " 

Keya, Raka and  me  started running to. bring the branches ;but those branches  were not dry. So they gave only  smoke to make us blind with running enough tears. The fire was about to extinguish; To re-ignite, all    sticks of the match box except three  were  finished .

  We went again in search of fuel . Finally Raka got a  big and heavy log; We three girls  brought  it  by dragging . 

Raka declared : "this log would be enough to  cook something   more ."

Nina:"watched the log mindfully and asked"wherefrom you bring it  ?"

Raka: "just near the bank of the river!"

Nina: "this log is from the 'burning Ghat'; it is used to push the dead body in the fire ;that's why one end of the log is burnt and black."

We all cried out ,"Phew, throw,  throw away.! We have to take shower in this winter  after   going back home!"

Nina: " let us take our meal ,we are all hungry" 

We washed our hands and feet well and sat surrounding the pot of khichuri.

Nina : 'Though. not fully cooked , but still edible ".

As  Nina opened the lid,  we exclaimed ,

"ah, the smell  is exactly like Khichuri.  Throwing hands upwards we sang "Khichuri, delicious Khichuri !....Three cheers for Nina the culinary goddess....  

[perhaps Hestia, the virgin  Greek goddess  smirked for these naive girls]

...Nina's face became bright with pride .  Keeping  a big spoon in the pot.  she declared,  "let  us start by  self-service .".

....hmm.. but we forgot to bring our spoons. Next time we must add spoons for everybody in the list .

We were so hungry that we forgot completely our contempt about  that  eerie log used  for dead body!

..Khichuri was steamy hot to eat by hand.  We tried  small gulp by picking little portion from the side of the plate ;small gulp . 

Nina threw cryptic eyes to survey everyone's face, (after her first gulp!)

I whispered  to Raka ,"it is tasty but salt is less,I need to add salt."

Raka replied  outrageously "not 'less'! It is utterly saltless!    

Hey Nina !you forget to add  any salt,   it is too  tasteless for me to eat; when Renu proposed to include her sister who has cooking experience, you opposed  her."

"Be cool"We searched all the bags  for the packet of salt but not found in any bags.

Looking at our helpless faces Keya  commented  "In my house my mom uses less salt in all preparations for the high pressure of my grandfather.  So I don't feel too bad to eat .  Looking at Nina directly 

she continued "after all we have  some new experience ,isn't ," nudged Nina with elbow  to bring back normal atmosphere,

Two stray dogs were loitering around us ;We ate very little ; as soon as we  emptied  left-over  from the pot they rushed and finished the stuff.

 They finished the food stuff in a way which gave me  satisfaction.  It was only 1:00pm. after pack up we started to return home.  The dogs waged their tails joyfully to say us 'goodbye" .

 Face of Raka was red in anger and hunger  while Nina's face  was red  out  of shame or guilt. All the way we tried to console  both........ 

Raka grumbled  : " I hate to confess at home that it was a feast of -fasting!"

  Me:  "Yes, that's the hardest part of the story for me too."

I slipped. into the house like a cat through backdoor; I heard the chat and lough of my mother and sister from  the kitchen;  I wished to hide myself in the drawing room .Before that   I  was. interrupted " who is it? Who is there? "

"me'.   

"You? so early?  did you eat or starved?  Come,.. come here to share little of your picnic  adventure!...  We have still enough left over which you  can  take  if you wish ."

I heard them to giggle .

"Nno I'm full,I tried to sound 'fake burp' and rushed into the bathroom,  avoiding to confront  them .

From bathroom I slipped under the quilt  of my bed and pretended to sleep so that nobody could interrupt me further ; but it was hard to sleep as hunger was  painfully  kicking my empty stomach,  and squeezing  my intestines .......  

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Sipra's Diary : Excerpt from the novel "MONOLOGOUE"

   

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

                                       Title:  Monologue     

Michelle: ( present age 73):

Sitting with a photo frame which bears the   group   photo of  High school   students  on the last day of graduation. when I  was 17 years old and most of the group were   almost  more or less  of same range.   It was late afternoon when the last rays of setting sun through the window illumines   miserly a small section of  the half-dark studio room ;

 She was sitting  on the  corner of  her  bed  near the window ; there are some more photos scattered  on  the bed beside her and a beautiful large album  which resembles a piece of art .She looked lost in  the photo frame  and roaming in her memory lane ;her  cheeks bears  dry stream of tears .She was looking at her friend ,Sylvia who left to the other world few hours ago.

 Michelle:(.  (Monologue):>>>>>>>>>>(in Flash-back...)

   .......Sylvia , you too left me alone  in  this vast  world , while I came back alive from nursing home   after  critical  heart surgery! You   were always runners up to me , not only in sport and game ,  but in study , drama , music or  art, but   in every field   in the  game  of life you beat me , kick me .....

Gazing at the photo of closely- knitted four   friends I was  roaming through my memory lane throughout the day ; we four were really soulmates ;we had never  any quarrel.

   ..Remember? The class mates nicknamed us with  a funny title "Misy-patpy"seaming  the   four names together  'Michelle, Sylvia, patty and poppy' like a  bouquet. 

Look , how bright we were,  eyes of each were full of dream& hope glittering   like glowing stars.You and I started our school life from   nursery  in Midtown Brooklyn High school;  Patti and poppy joined us in grade nine. 

  We were the prominent "so-called "Pop students in the class.  We get attention from teachers as well as from students . The first stage of  our  initial life spent well .  I was strong in literature; my aim of life was to be writer-cum -film director; Sylvia excelled in photography  : you took your passion as your  profession too.  you got job in some trade magazine as  assistant photographer. Patty became  a very successful entrepreneur   of event-management , and Poppy ?

 She   always wanted a handsome rich man to marry and to be a loving wife and mother ; she used to say that  she was raised by single mother and felt tired   and pity of hardship of mother's working-life  for herself ;She had no wish to get job  . She did not    even take admission to any college .

She met her future husband first in the Brooklyn Garden during Cherry Blossom festival. Poppy was 'black beauty' of our school.  she looked like a statue of black-stone ; some  boys had  crush on her and called her  as beautiful as Nefartiti. 

Poppy got married within six months of her High school  graduation  with  the man of her first love . Remember ?   how much we  the 'Misy-Patpy' enjoyed the ceremony  in Charleston as bride's maid ! Her husband was the owner of some four star luxurious hotel of  Charleston . We spent a whole week  at the insistence of the couple ! 

Yes,  She led a happy married//conjugal life  for 11 years with two children .Then she fell sick with slow fever and caugh.  She neglected it initially ;  her husband forced her  to visit a doctor .She was diagnosed lung cancer  and  in quite  advanced stage!  I  visited  her  last only five days before her death. ...I spent with her whole day in the nursing home .  As I got ready to leave her she  burst into tears  embracing  me and said whispering ,

"do you know(struggling  a long  breathe) that   not  the  disease but what  pinched me bitterly --is that  Mark  is dating    a woman  who is a Dr of this nursing home , as he came to know  my days are limited..." a second wave  of louder cry made her body shiver like seizure. 

"Please pray god to take me  quickly, and take care of my children.  She released me and looking straight to me in tearful eyes vomited  from poisonous voice ,

" never believe a man nor his love!" 

I took my flight with sad shrouded mind .All. these years I wished her children on their birthday . They were sent to boarding  school  after their  father's  second marriage. I used to wish them in their birthday and Christmas Day ;but I stopped it as Poppy's husband didn't like it .

Story of Poppy ends in tragedy.

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Sira's Diary: Canine Fable Episode-2

 Episode -2

 

 

In the evolution of civilization, there are some distinct landmarks. Among the most remarkable was shifting to agricultural life from  that of hunter-gatherers': a giant leap;  men became settler which in course of time, created the ownership of land:( the root of all complications.)

Status of the dog also changed accordingly with the lifestyle of man. So long the pack of dogs moved with their tribe. Later on, some of them happened to belong to different individual masters, while some became stray dogs. But whether domesticated or stray, all of them were loyal by nature and adjusted in the community. A sense of duty 'to guard' and 'to protect' their masters' cause flowed in the DNA of their blood (no matter whether for individual or for the community).

    In the old days, keeping dogs as a pet was popular mostly in European countries first and not in Asian countries, at least in India. In old picture or movie, it was very common to see a sophisticated woman and a man with a suit, boot, tie, hat, stick and holding a dog in the chain on street or park or a dog peeping its head from the window of a car. The royal family of Britain were very much fond of the dog as a pet and still maintaining the tradition. Queen Elizabeth-11 has favorite four pugs.

 

 In Europe, people could not take a shower throughout the cold season. There was no sunshine. People suffered from skin diseases. Dogs were kept to clean their bodies by licking; and relieved them from worms, itching and skin diseases. Dogs used to give the comfort of warmth and relief by licking with a soft tongue.

From the English literature, we can know how old was this tradition.  As the British set up colonies in various places, they influenced their culture also in those territories. But only wealthy and fancy people used to keep dogs as pets.

 In India, still, now, a number of stray dogs are random compared to pet dogs. These stray dogs survive on the left-over food from their neighborhood; they are night-guards, more loyal than salaried human beings. In my neighborhood of India, I have noticed from the balcony the dogs lying idly but started howling and chased after, if any stranger, especially hawker passed through the lane. I am amazed to notice their sixth sense. The same type of behaviour, if any dog from another zone come near to them. They are very much territorial.

Anyway, my focus of this article is how the people,s outlook has changed the status of the dog. So far the dog has been humanised what will be next?

 

Will they be "divinized" also in the coming days? Egyptian sculpture portrayed god with the head of a dog and (also with the head of an eagle.)

Is civilization taking us backwards?

 

Last week Newyorker cartoon page presented an image of a man sitting on a chair, like an emperor in the throne, surrounded by few dogs devoted in his service.

Ah-h, an enticing reverie!

Human now has fancied the option to be 'underdog'; Is it self-banishment?

My article is propelled by the photo in the top: "Dog's evening walk in a fancy red toy-car", pampered by a man..

Pavlov's theory of saliva with the ringing of the bell is now redundant. Perhaps pet dogs now need 'appetiser' before lunch and dinner; maybe digestive tonic too, after each meal; lastly, why not a nap?

The modern trend is going towards 'divinizing' the dog. I saw two Hindi movies where dogs acted as a superhero.