Juggling thoughts

 That morning, the city woke in steady rain I can't really stop to care about, when I saw that boy. The one with a chicken-plucked look across the rail track: his hairs were tufted circle on top. He was that caught my eyes in the madding crowd. He seemed even to know his place as unworthy striver, of the one no one would look away from for long. He lifted his sack to collect rags: a ticket to buy his bread.  The train was on the run but that would not stop him from collecting every bit of rag. People passed by him, pushing, dashing and the other boys smirked before the rain that was dousing and sweeping all of the rags stupidly into the gutter. I was half in love with his doing. Nine, or maybe ten he would be. He then twitched in sublime irritation, cursing, maybe ,the rain. Harder it poured, up again, hard to shelter his soaking head with the sack but he pretty much managed problems, and now came the move that got me staring on still. His twitch becalmed at last and he stoo...

 I once taught English to Korean students in Guwahati, and they asked, 'What kind of English do Indians speak? It doesn't sound American or British.'  I jokingly replied, 'We speak "Hin-lish" in India, a mix of Hindi and English with our regional languages.' As a Naga, I added that I speak "Nag-lish," influenced by my Naga-Lotha dialect. I asked them what they thought was the universal standard of English. Is it American or British? It is neither. Communication is about expressing ourselves clearly, not about perfect accents. Many students struggle with confidence due to fears of not sounding 'right.' There is no 'right' way to speak English – clarity and basic grammar are what matter. Using complex vocabulary like Shashi Tharoor's might impress some, but if your audience doesn't understand, communication fails. Effective communication is about being understood, not really about how good the accent is or to showcase your v...

He was trying hard to balance the puri lunch plate on his left hand and the hot glass of tea on the right. Half-naked with bare foot, he had to walk the sun  scorched road. Even I was finding it difficult to cross,as the cars never stopped in the traffic chaotic city road. And that job of the little boy seems to be the toughest of all the jobs in the world that moment . He was so careful with each of his step as he had the plate and the tea cup. What if he drops?   This scene caught my attention in and between the crowds. I am not very sure of his age, but the first look on his face made me assume he must be seven or so. I went closer to him, and noted through his over cautious steps that maybe this is his new job as a chai wala. The fear feeling of dropping the lunch on his hands can be read right on his forehead through the shrink lines and eye wrinkles. He shrugged every time he made an attempt to cross the road . He failed several times , beca...

In lot of the marriage I admire, I like to see  where the wife keeps her surname.  "A wife doesn't come from nowhere; she belongs somewhere,and it should be respected." My maiden name represents my ancestry and the reputation I've built. Why must I surrender it because I married ?  I wasn't a "distressed damsel" in need of rescue; I was a woman with my own history and identity, equally important as my husband's.  So why is mine presumed invisible? Preserving my family name is crucial, as it would have ended with my generation. My grandparents had sons, who passed on their name to the next generation. I want to honor my lineage, just as my husband honors his. I would never expect my husband to move his last name or to hyphenate his last name with mine.   To those who choose to take their spouse's last name, we proudly celebrate your decision. It's a personal choice that deserves respect. However, to those who feel pressured to change: choose a...

In today's fast-paced world, seasonal depression can creep up on us, leaving us feeling drained and disconnected. It's tempting to face these struggles alone, ignoring God's presence in our lives. We might stop reading the Bible, praying, or attending church, and instead, give in to the mirage of perfection. This mirage convinces us that we need to present ourselves flawlessly to God, hiding our true selves. We believe that our imperfections make us unworthy of His love and presence. But this couldn't be further from the truth. As humans, we're inherently flawed. It's easy to feel worthy when we're doing well – praying at the right times, studying scripture, and managing our emotions. But when we stumble, we often flee from God's presence, fearing His disappointment. However, God already knows our weaknesses and imperfections. He's not waiting for us to become perfect; He wants us to bring our flaws to Him, so He can work on them with us. Our imperfe...

  In the pursuit of equality, we've become obsessed with proving that women can do everything men can do.  We, Women weren't created to do everything men can do. Women were created to do everything men cannot do. -Redefining Our Value We weren't created to replicate men's strengths. Instead, we bring distinct perspectives, skills, and qualities that complement and surpass what men can offer. -Embracing Our Differences It's time to recognize and celebrate our unique value. We weren't made to fit into a mold created by society; we were designed to break it and create our own. -Unleashing Our Potential Let's focus on what we do best and leave the rest. We are capable of achieving greatness, not in spite of our femininity, but because of it.