Stopping by the woods one cloudy morning

I pass these woods everyday,

Always different from the previous day;

The green woods and the grey clouds

Make it pleasant and cool today! 

My mother should find it queer 

That  she is late, her daughter dear

Has she stopped for someone's sake,

between the woods and the kukkarhaLLi lake? 

She gives a ring to my mobile

Making me wonder for a while!

Should I avoid going to school,

and stretch under the trees so cool?

The woods are lovely dark and deep

But I have promises to keep;

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep!

                                                     APOLOGIES TO ROBERT  FROST

Two roads diverged in a green wood

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveller; long I stood

Looking at both

One was much travelled and the other wanted wear

I was wise and took the former

Which took me to my home,  my haven

To finish the  chapattis in  my kitchen

The other one I kept for another day,

For I knew I would come back on a Sunday;

For today it makes a lot of sense; Hence

It makes all the difference.

Eligible bachelor

I had seen Naren as a promising student - bright, intelligent, and talented. He was a volley ball player, was among the top three in the class, played classical flute and took active interest in dramatics. When last heard, he had scored 97.5%  in the PU and had got entry into a prestigious Engineering college. But last week when I met him, I was shocked to see a pre-occupied, listless, young man of 28  who worked in one of those multinational companies, earned a handsome salary and had already presented a car to his parents! The proud parents had brought him home in that car. The young man sat next to his mother, with a shy smile, looked at her for all queries and the mother answered most of the questions. He was ‘very busy’, the mother said. The slight paunch indicated lack of physical activity, and he had nothing to contribute to the general conversation. No music, no movies, no socialization! "Looking for a suitable girl...hehehe..." the mother said."Hehehe....." I replied.

     When it was time to leave, he said a quick goodbye and went and sat in the car as we still exchanged pleasantries. He was not there to help the grand - mother who walked unsteadily to the car and fumbled with the car door. Added to all these, he admonished her when the car door was shut with a bang!

I was totally disillusioned and disappointed at what he had become; what our education system had done to him. 

He is an employee of a big MNC, and that was enough to get offers from the parents of eligible daughters! How would he be, as a husband? as a son-in-law? as a friend? ...................

I wondered.....