नीलम
While coming back to the hostel with my friends from the monotonous college day: A small girl was playing with the sand nearby our hostel where some construction work is going on. "अरे , कितना पाला बच्चा है... (पाला = प्यारा )....." .... "देख देख... कैसे खेल रही है रेत में..." Her big eyes rolled as I moved towards her to take the photograph. "क्या नाम है ?..." Her mother working behind replied, "नीलम " ! Her small hands pressing hard against the sand were trying to get hold of it but to her surprise, the sand magically slipped away every time. Numb to this fickle society, her innocence overpowered my fears about this partial world, the unruly world, the challenges of life... And I'm reminded of Taylor's song:- "Wasn't it easier in your fire-flying catching days , When everything out of reach some-one bigger brought down to you, Wasn't it beautiful runnin' wild' 'til you fell asleep,