knss news march

I left it in the mirror to see the quote until my heart
healed.
But there were some hurts my mother couldn’t heal. A
month before my graduation, my father died of heart attack.
I felt abandoned, frightened, distrusted and angry. My father
was missing to witness the most important events in my life.
It was his dream to see me as a engineering graduate. I lost
my interest to attend my graduation day and other graduation
day events. I even forgot that my graduation gown had to be
altered. I had gone to shop with my mother. It was a white
gown with dotted red. I just tried and felt myself a princess
but it was wrong size. After my father death, the following
day I just forgot about my dress. But my mother didn’t. The
day before my graduation I found my dress waiting for me
in the right size. It was draped majestically. On my bed and
presented to me artistically and lovingly. I may not have
cared about it, but my mother did.
She cared about all the minute things, how we children
felt about ourselves. She gave me the ability to see beauty
in everything with the sense with the sense of magic in the
world.
In truth, my mother wanted me to see myself like the
pink flowers in bouquet-lovely, strong, perfect and perhaps
a bit of mystery.
My mother died when I was 24, 10 days after my
marriage. That was the year the bouquet stopped coming.
1st Prize winning Short Story in KNSS Talent
Search 2016 Short Story writing competition
(Group C)
AWAY FROM HOME
Sneha R.
M.S. Nagar Karayogam
“How peaceful it was under the neem branches” I
thought I said sipping , as I sat for a while outside my tent
before going to sleep. It was a week now since I had read a
newspaper or listened to the radio. Being passionate about
your profession could involve giving up the comforts of a
city dweller, to live the rugged countryside’s life, especially
when you are a doctor.
A week’s stay at Dhemaji, Assam, made me realise that
sometimes, the ease of city life could be forsaken to inhale
some fresh air and feast on the picturesque the country side
can offer
“Babu….here is the milk” came the voice of Katan.
“Ah..thank you” sipping on the best milk one could
ever drink.
Katan, my helper, a native of the Mishing tribe from
Dhemaji sat beside me, a smile on his face and his tiny eyes
twinkling in the moonlight.
“You know babu….i could have become a Miri too, like
you” he said.
“Miri?” I asked.
“Yes. He givesus the the medicines when we are I pain.
He makes it with leaves aand herbs”
I had understood. Miri was a village doctor.
“Why didn’t you then?” I asked smiling.
“when I was young a Miri gave the village headman a
medicine for his headache. The hadman was relieved of his
headache the next day but stopped breathing forever. The
people drove the Miri out of Dhemaji. Why should I be
driven out babu?” he asked, laughing.
I chuckled too. Ktan was a humourous and knowledgable
man. He made a fine company for me around the village.
“But babu, your Miri powers are splendid. That’s why
you are a dactar”
“Its ‘doctor’ Katan” I laughed sipping the last of the
milk. Magically, sleep got the better of me.
“I guess we must retire for the day Katan” I said yawning.
“Goodnight Babu” Katan said “it’s a pity,Babu, that
just when we got close, you must leave.” He said,his voice
dampening.
“Life is full of meetingsand partings,Katan” I said
consolingly. However honestly, I knew, deep inside, to
stay longer. I wanted to live amidst the green hues and
foliage,chirping birds nd the inherent jolly nature of the
Mishing people.
But it had been forever since I spoke to my mother,
which was the only driving force directing me homeward.
“Yes Babu…..yes” he said sounding pensive.
“Miri men are jolly folk Katan…” I started.
“Exactly Babu. Tomorrow is your last day here. I will
make sure it’s the best. Goodnight. Big day tomorrow” he
said and mumbling, he walked towards his hut.
I entered my tent and lay on the cot, wondering “why
medical camps were despised by my fellow doctors. Its when
you really know the power of the medical profession, the
gift of restoring fine health to the needy. Its some time out
of the hustle and bustle of a busy city life into the beauty of
nature left to be enjoyed. My thoughts quickly ran to Priya.
She was probably the only other fellow doctor who
enjoyed nature and service. And then I remembered I had to
get her a present as she was engaged to another dear friend
Sunil, while I was gone. And oh, my sister would kill me
if she found no souveneir in my bag. And slowly between
these thoughts I fell into a deepslumber.
The crows of the rooster woke me the next morning.
Assam saw sunshine very early. I could hear voces outside.
When I stepped out of my tent I found Katan and two other
men.
“Good morning Babu. Get dressed quickly and be
knss news bulletin March 2017 35