The Healthy Competition

On another planet many light years away,

There was a kingdom, perhaps a ‘queendom’, may I say!

It was ruled by a queen who was wise and powerful!

And her queendom, was both healthy and beautiful…

The rules that governed her world were queer,

And yet people lived there happily and without fear!

People had health cards when they joined school,

And having good health was considered cool!

Subjects were taught and they played games,

Even the exams tested their memory for rulers’ names!

But the report sent, had their fitness scores,

And how well they finished their assigned chores!

Mothers were seen helping kids cook and clean,

Children were sent to classes to improve their skin’s sheen!

Diabetes or hypertension would diminish their chances,

Of getting their well- deserved career advances!

Healthy people enjoyed a hefty bonus,

While the sickly ones always kicked up a huge fuss!

Farmers ‘n’ workers got double the normal wages,

Only when their reports contained pink pages!

Mothers giving birth to healthy babies,

Earned lifetime pensions to pursue their hobbies!

Older people with excellent report cards,

Were given ‘Lifetime achievement’ awards!

And did I tell you about the trophies and medals,

That were won by people who, to office, pedaled?

The Queen was proud of her healthy subjects,

While the neighbors had nothing to object!

Life in her queendom was evenly paced,

And even competition left them healthy, not dazed!

Work was done by all for society’s sake,

As efforts were genuine, and none a rake!

Author's note: 

If the primary objective of money is to buy us happiness and comfort, then the primary objective of education is to buy us a job that can help us find money! 
 
Once we achieve this, we start thinking about the primary objective of life. 

We understand that after completing the race and making the money that we always wanted and getting to the comfort zone that we once thought would make us happy, our happiness actually lies in having good health and peace of mind!

Maybe we have set our goals in the reverse order. Here is a poem that would help you reset your goals, in the forward order...

 

Divided by families, united by a scorpion!

Three summers back, two of my friends decided to visit us. The mothers and the children reached Bangalore and the three of us took the five kids and ventured on our own.

I had booked a cottage near Kanakapura, at a place called Anandhama. I was particular that the resort management gave us three different bed rooms, though each one was big enough to accommodate all three families.

Since I was the host I wanted to ensure that we all had our private moments with our kids.

We hired a tourist’s vehicle to reach us to the place. The youngest kid was a little more than 2 years of age and the oldest was about 11 years.

We had fun all the way and when we reached the place, the trip organisers had arranged for a night jungle walk! Though I was tentative, my friends wanted to try their hands at everything. We carried the little one in turn. The rest of the kids were enjoying themselves, though they stuck together.

The trek was quite enjoyable and when we reached the cottage we were all tired and exhausted. We hit the dining hall straight as the kids would have otherwise had each other for dinner!

The food was good and the kids ate well!

Before getting back to the cottage, my friends reminded me to check the sleeping arrangements. I promptly went to the reception and once again, reminded them that we needed three separate rooms.

The person in-charge asked us to have a stroll, while he got the rooms ready. Once he came back to tell us that we could occupy our rooms, we dashed off, kids in front. Just as he opened the door to let us in, the youngest kid made a quick dash. The kid behind her, let out a scream, as he spotted a huge, black scorpion.

All of us backed out while we kept the screams going! Very soon, few of the men rushed inside and hit the unsuspecting creature with their footwear before driving him out of the cottage!

As soon as the black arthropod was safely out of our way, the rest of us went inside picking the baffled child up. We were all so shaken, that we did not realise how tired we were. Finally, we decided that it was time to sleep and the lady in-charge asked us if we wanted anything more.

Gingerly, she began, “Call me if you need anything more. Usually scorpions live as a colony. And the tiled roofs are their favourite hiding place,” she concluded.

All of us looked up at the same time. As the lady was about to leave one of us began, “Do the bedrooms have tiled roofs?”

“Not sure, we need to check,” she said as we went inside to check.

Except one bedroom the rest had tiled roofs!

“Can you move all the beds to one room?” I asked.

“Are you sure? You were insistent on different bedrooms,” the lady did not let go of the opportunity that had so conveniently presented itself!

After she arranged the beds, the lady left. The three of us burst out laughing at our own plight!

The next morning, we debated on whether we had to pack our bags and head home or stay and enjoy the rest of the trip. Finally we decided to enjoy the vacation and what a vacation it turned out to be!

The missing moments

I miss the moments that I shared with the mango trees,

Plucking her hard work after shooing the bees!

I miss the moments that I shared with the August rain,

When a ‘cutting chai’ with friends would make me forget my pain!

I miss the moments that I spent arguing with my parents and teachers,

The moments have become my memory’s permanent features!

I miss the giggles that I shared with my classmates while in school,

When merely looking at each other, would make us laugh like fools!

I miss the moments that I spent on trains, travelling home,

With friends that made the hours feel light as a foam!

I miss the crowded trains as much as I miss the lazy weekends,

That I spent doting on my noisy kids and their screaming friends!

I miss the moments that drove me crazy as work would pile on work all day,

As my children have grown up and my friends are far away!

But these are the moments that I did not miss when they did happen!

I recall with pleasure, these moments as I leisurely sit in my den!