I’m sorry 

I know I’m at fault. I also know that you’re angry at me. In fact, you’ve all the right to do so.

Before you stop reading it thinking that it’s just one of those apology letters, I want you to continue reading it, and if it interests you, read it till the end.

I never wanted to do it but circumstances made me do so. I even now regret doing it. Even though acceptance isn’t always the biggest repentance, but it makes one less of a sinner and I accept that I did it under no peer pressure or obligations and it was solely my own decision.

I neither blame the refrigerator for cooling things too fast or pizza for being too cheesy to be left alone.

I blame myself.

Please forgive me, my dear diet chart.

By  Sayan  Basak

Why Pain?

Why me? Is that the first reaction that you have on experiencing pain?
Let me tell you a micro story and then we can conclude.

A certain Devta (An alien who was spiritually and technically 5 million years ahead of us) was tired of the riches and stagnation of pleasures on his planet (Aka Devloka!). He searched for a planet that could speed up his spiritual growth and evolution. He found a blue planet, our Earth in the year 5006 B.C.
He was surprised to see a few brown skinned humans in deep meditation. He communicated with them mentally and requested them to help.

“I am Pintozahuan, king of Daytopa planet. I wish to evolve into the finer realms of existence. Sadly, my evolution has stopped despite my best efforts. Do you know why?”

The brown skinned saints opened their eyes and talked telepathically “Welcome to the blessed planet, Earth. The only good thing that this planet offers is pain. But worry not, this thing called pain will propel you to truth in no time. Sensation of pain is the only cure for stagnation of evolution”

The alien took birth as a human being and started living on this planet. He lost his mother when he was born. His father died of a snake bite. He roamed the streets as a lunatic and begged for food. He developed skin diseases and became weak.

One day when he went to a temple to collect Bhoga (free food) he saw the same brown skinned saints who communicated with him on his initial arrival. They recognized him instantly and took him to their Ashram (Spiritual retreat). His diseases were healed and he was initiated into the world of meditation and deep concentration.
One day Pintozahuan was sitting with the saints.

“So what did you learn?” Asked the brown skinned saints.

“It is a strange sensation! But my mind has become sharper and ready to enter the infinite state” Exclaimed Pintozahuan.

“So you have learnt the secret of this Planet?”
“Yes I do, now please help me reach my cosmic home!”

Pintozahuan meditated intensely for years. His mind was stronger than ever. Pain had made him resistant to all stagnating thoughts. He entered the cosmic world with ease and joined several earthly saints!
So friends, remember, this planet is a learning stage. Use your pain to evolve. Do not complain, utilize the gift called pain !

The creator is testing you!

By Saket Chattopadhyay

“বিবাহ বার্ষিকী” 

বাসবী কয়লা গুড়ো, গোবর মিশিয়ে গুল দিচ্ছিলো। কিছুদিন হলো ওরা এখানে উঠে এসেছে। কপালফেরে একটা পুরোনো ভাঙা চালাঘরের দখল জুটে যায় । মাথার ওপরে একটা কিছু না হলেও ছাদ আছে। লেপ কাঁথা আর বর্ষায় ভেজে না ।

ছেলেদুটো আর গণেশ, চারটে পেট। বাসবী বাবুদের বাড়িতে বাসন মাজে, তবে গণেশের কোন কাজ নেই। রোজ সকালে স্টেশনে কাজ খুঁজতে যায়। গণেশের স্বাস্থ্য মজবুত। আগে একটা স্কুলে দারোয়ানের কাজ করতো। ভাগ্যের দোষে, একদিন স্কুলের মালিকের গাড়ি থেকে চুরি হয়। গাড়িটা বাইরে ছিলো, কিন্তু মালিক মানেন নি। চাকরিটা যায়।

তিন বছরের মধ্যে বাসবী দু’বার মা হয়। আর গণেশ? চোট পাওয়া বাঘ। বিয়ের তারিখে ফিতে, ক্লিপ, মিষ্টিমশলার শিশি একটা কিছু নিয়েই আসতো। পেছনে হুক লাগানো একটা  লাল ব্লাউজ আনে একবার। বাসবী তখন নতুন মা, ব্লাউজটা শরীরে ভালো করে বসেছিলো। সাথে বাঘের আদরও ছিলো।

বাসবী ভাবছিলো, আজ ওদের বিয়ের দিন। গণেশের কাছে এখন ঝাপসা তারিখ বা মানুষ। স্নানের পরে, ব্লাউজটা খুঁজে, গায়ে দিয়ে, খুলে ফেলে বাসবী। সামনে পেছনে কেবল খালি শরীরের খাঁচা। সব এখন শুধু স্মৃতি।

সরকারী ক্লিনিকে নিজের বাঘটার দাঁত তুলে গণেশ ফিরলো বেশ রাতে, হাতে দুধের থলি, কিছু ফল। বুকপকেট থেকে টাকা, বাসবীর হাতে।

‘আজ থেকে আমাদের কষ্টের দিন শেষ।’

‘আজকেই কেন ?’

‘এর থেকে ভালো দিন হয় না’। গণেশের চোখে জল।

by Himadri Sekhar Datta