The National zoological Park

A visit to the Delhi National Zoo might bring back fond memories of childhood for some of us. Many of us have enjoyed our school picnics here but only remember bits and parts of the same. For instance, I remember eating my food near the tiger enclosure and getting scolded by my teacher for the same. The zoo is very much the same with school children visiting it and teasing the poor animals.

Upon landing at the zoo, I saw hundreds of school children flocking the area outside the ticket counter and waiting for the chance to enter it. The 10/- rupees entry ticket makes it possible for the government schools to bring the children here and entertain them. It is popular with couples also who walk hand in hand here. The green shady trees make it perfect for them to spend their lazy summer afternoons here. You can also see them on benches and talking in hushed voices, oblivious to the dangerous animals around them.

Upon entering the zoo I had heard a lady on the loud speaker who was repeatedly saying that teasing the animals is a punishable offense. But when you enter inside and se eth people who tease the animals mercilessly, you get to understand that the warning has no actual meaning. There was no one to check on the animals or to say anything to the children who were stones at the innocent animals and were teasing them-disturbing their afternoon siesta

You might remember that was moats filled with water around the animal enclosure. But when you actually get to the tiger enclosure, you would observe that the water has dried up. The moats still have water like the one for the crocodiles, are so dirty and smelly that you do not even wish to stand near it. The dirt algae water with plastic bottles floating on the surface makes it impossible for you to see the crocodile swimming in the water. So if you wish to catch a glimpse then you would just have to wait for them to come out of the water. Similarly standing near the area where the hippos resided, was impossible as the water had a very strong and foul smell.

If you want information on the endangered species or want to know more about the animals then I suggest that you opt for wikipedia instead of visiting the zoo. The boards outside the animal enclosure have limited information that can hardly help you. At some places you could also see misplaced boards hanging outside the enclosures. I found one cage that had a board with information on Green Parakeet while the inhabitant was a bright blue colored parrot.

When I had entered the zoo, there was a sign on a board that said, follow the arrows on the road to see the entire zoo. But after 200m or 300m, the signs disappear leaving you clueless about the direction. If you want to see the Chinkaras or the Baboons then you find their cages to be empty with no information about them.

As I came towards the end of my zoo visit, I realized that the surroundings were very pleasing and reminded me of my Singapore zoo visit. But we lack in the Delhi zoo is proper maintenance. The information here is misleading and incomplete as well. This is why most of the people are hardly interested in visiting the zoo and find it boring. Introducing some special features can however, make the visit more appealing and exciting.

Box Full Of Memories

Yesterday, while I was rummaging through the store room, searching for some reference books for my project I stumbled across my most beloved treasure- A box full of memories. The box was full of souvenirs from my childhood- collage of my pictures, old books, test papers where I have been marked as 'good' or' excellent' (the bad results were of course thrown away). When I had entered the room, I was in a hurry to find the reference and get back to work but here I was, rummaging through old memories and remembering some of the most beautiful moments of my life.

The box had numbers of old sketches and paintings that I had made as a child. It was nostalgic to see them again and I was reminded of the time when my teacher's encouragement had changed the terrible art drawings into terrific paintings. I couldn't really believe that I had the time and the patience to sketch those as now the patience seems to have vanished away. There were several cards with cheesy little quotes but seeing them again brought back a smile on my face. What a beautiful time it was when I and my sister would compete with each other to come up with the most creative card for our parents.

The best treasure in the box was of course the letters that I had exchanged with my friends Neha and Mehak and with my cousins Radhika and Anushree. Those letters were written on beautiful printed papers with matching envelopes and were also decorated with glittery pens and cute little stickers and stamps. A few of those letters also had small self made envelope that said 'Open at your own risk' or ' Open with a smile'. The letters were cutely written in colourful pens where we insisted the other person to visit us or talked about school and our dogs and teddies. Before the vacations used to commence, the letters used to be filled with plans related to the trips and what clothes we would be carrying.

It is said that with the advent of communication, the distance between the hearts has reduced but I think it’s the other way round where it has added more distance. True that we have mobile phones, SMS, emails, IMs and other tools but still people now hardly have the time to say hello. The STD rates have come down and the charm of receiving a long distance call has run out. The stickers used on the letters have been replaced with icons and smiley's and the beautiful expressions like ' I hope my letter finds you in the pink of your health' has been reduced to 'HRU?.’ Now instead of receiving hand made birthday cards on my B'day, I get SMS on my cell and the photo collage was replaced by the digital photograph.

I really miss those good times when my father used to hand me an envelope and I used to be filled with excitement. I used to read and re-read the letter and reply them promptly. Me and my pen friends competed with each other and used to see who is faster. With the innovative modern technology, the distance between the hearts have grown and the personal touch is now lost in the virtual world.

Opening my Box rediscover my lost hobbies and reminded me of what I loved or enjoyed. I have brought out all the letters, cards and photographs and have posted them on my work table. This way I can delve into my childhood whenever I want and live in those beautiful moments again.

your existence in my life

Defining your role in my life has become important today
Can't tell what I feel, so writing it out was the best way
You came into my life some two years ago,
to comfort and support me- a friend who was never to go.

You helped me gain my lost confidence again,
without any personal intention or any kind of gain.
You helped me learn what life was all about
and taught me how to heal and forget about my wounds.

With time our bond became stronger and grew
and we developed a kind of friendship that was shared by few.
you become one of the most important person in my life,
with whom I share my dreams and also get to fight.

I can talk to you about any goddamn subject or thing,
and I trust you and know that you ll advice me without any tinge.
You are my mirror where I can see and judge myself
A confession box where I can cry and pay my penance.

You help me to get over my guilt and scold me for my mistakes,
and when you do that I feel loved, pampered and cared.
In happier times also I always think of you
feel like rushing to you to share my news.

Sometime you are my best friend and sometimes like a brother
I look up to you for advice and then you become my mentor.
You are the pillar from where I get my strength
when you are with me, life seems less tensed.

You helped me be a better person today,
and I m glad that you came in my life that day.
No i don't have any kind of special expectations from you,
But a promise that you wont disappear from my life like a dew.

(C) Priyanka

Dedicated to My friend

It wasn't a planned meet but still we met.
Our paths crossed and we became friends.
With time my friendship with you grew,
and I realised that people like you are very few.
you are all smile and can bring happiness,
can easily help people to overcome their distress.

We shared jokes and laughed together,
and were always trying to pull each others leg.
Remember how you used to do that breaking action,
with the funny noise that caught everyone's attention.
Butter chicken is the pet name by which I call you,
but don't become one and stay this cool.

In gym we used to meet everyday for a while,
and then at last it was time to say goodbye.
You are due to leave the city and go,
to a new city and a land unknown.
A new destination awaits you,
and I wish you best in all you do.
Our paths may cross or may not cross again,
but you are someone special whom I can never forget.

Wasting away my Life

Evaluation of my life
brought in past scenes before my eyes
a sudden realization hit me hard
and I felt like being jolted out of the dark.

There were incidents from the past,
moments that were never given the chance to last.
Things that I still regret
moments I would never forget.

There was a guy I loved,
but was afraid of being dumped.
Never mustered the courage to tell him,
and when I did the chance were already dim.
seems like the feeling was mutual,
but now he was engaged with another future.
Life moved on and so did I,
managed to overcome him after sleepless nights.

The next incident danced before my eyes,
when I wanted to travel around and enjoy life.
I had the money to travel around the world
but I was greedy and wanted to earn more.
Kept on working harder and harder
till I became ill and was always tired.
I decided to take my break now,
but the cost of living had gone up somehow.
What I had with me was not enough,
and again I felt like a dunce.

Similar incidents mocked at me
and realization suddenly hit me.
I have been putting off things for long,
my dreams and possibilities have been gathering on and on.
None of them were accomplished though,
all because I moved on with the flow.
Never really understood what I wanted,
just did what people around me chanted.

Everyone's life is hanging by the ledge,
Don't know what turns it is gonna pledge.
It is too short too hate someone,
and guilt is also a wasted emotion.
Enough of regrets, enough of sorrows,
I am living for the moment -without a care for tomorrow.

Evaluating the serial Bomb blasts

The city had been peaceful and people were raving about its tremendous growth in the last 10 years until July 25, 2008. The peaceful atmosphere of Bangalore was shattered when 9 bombs rocked throughout the city. This was followed by Ahmedabad blasts on 26 July, 2008, wherein 17 blasts killed 30 innocent people and injured many others.

The security around the country was tightened after these bomb blasts but the damage was already done. The bomb blasts not only took away innocent life but also affected the Indian economy. Crores of property and resources were wasted away or damaged in these bomb blasts.

These bomb blasts raises the question related to the security of the country. The blasts are a living example of the security lapse and the threat posed to the Indian economy. The question that comes up in everyone mind is “Why?”. The intensity of the blasts has not only affected Bangalore or Ahmedabad, but India as a whole. It has made people feel insecure and has scared them.

Similar serial blasts have been witnessed before as well. This year itself, Jaipur was targeted by the terrorist in the month of May when 8serial bombs took away 60 innocent lives and crippled many others. In 2007 Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai in 2006 also witnessed such serial blasts that had brought the Indian economy to a stand still.

The different terrorist groups have come up and taken responsibility for these blasts but the government is to be blamed equally. The security of the country is tightened after the blasts but prior to that it is almost neglected. This is the reason why the terrorists are able to plant the bomb easily.

There are loopholes in the security system and the Indian Economy has to suffer because of it. The innocent are killed and suffer the loss. If the government would have been alert since the beginning and taken measure regarding the security of the country then the situation could have been avoided. But unfortunately, the slumber is broken by the shrieks and cries of the relatives of the dead. The government comes into action only when the damage has been done.

After the recent bomb blast, security plans have definitely been changed but the question is that for how long will they continue? After a few weeks, it would succumb to the old ways and would be careless. The terrorists would get a chance again and the innocent would suffer yet again. There is no end to this vicious cycle because the government itself does not wish to break it. Until and unless the loopholes are not covered and this vicious cycle is not broken, people would continue dying and the Indian economy would keep on suffering.

Feeling Blue

It was one of those days when you wake up feeling low
A feeling that something is wrong, not according to the flow
You don't know what happened and were fine the previous evening
but now you cant just seem to shake off the weird feeling.
The same seem to be happening with me today
that made me look so sullen on such a good-day.
When I woke up in the morning and got off the four post bed
the sinking feeling accompanied me wherever I went.
Instead of the smiling face that looks back to me from the mirror,
What I saw were eyes that were sad and felt like stranger.
As my day progressed further and I met my friends
they asked me the same thing- why I was tensed.
I was confused myself and did not know how to answer them
so I simply gave a lazy smile to deceive all my friends.
but they knew me very well and were not easily fooled
and simply said-Priyanka, don't try to ACT cool!
I smiled lazily again and went ahead with my work
still trying to figure out what made me feel so dull.
I am thinking about something at the back of my head,
but cant seem to answer the 5 W's and 1 H*
I hate these mood swings, hate the unanswered questions
as they do nothing and just leave behind depression.
There was no rhyme or reason for me to feel blue
but I just couldn't help it and neither could you.
As I hopped into my bed again tonight
I can simply hope that tomorrow turns to be bright.

Renewed Hopes

Another day has gone by,

today again my hopes died.

The hope to meet you or to see you soon,

to look into those eyes that made me bloom.

As the sun settled in the horizon,

I am still waiting for you to come

My eyes are misty and are filled with tears

as I am haunted by your memories of yesteryear.

Every morning when the sun streams into my room,

the hope of our meeting again are renewed.

As the clock tick-tocks away,

I am warned that you wont come today.

By midnight when you do not arrive,

I dream of you in order to survive.

This hope of meeting dies every day,

but by next morning they are somehow born again.

My heart knows you would be back one day,

but till that time I' ll have to play this game.

The Road ends now...

What makes you think you can can turn your back,

leave me crying and enstranged?

You think you can walk in and then say goodbye

when you knew I wouldnt want you out of my life?

Y es I know I had given you the right
but this time I wont let you go without a fight.

You gave me two choices today,

to say goodbye or to do as you say.

I chose the latter and made you think you won

but you were wrong here as that was not to be done.

Instead of one, I took both the choices,

fighting within, with my inner voices.

If I'm the only one to be affected by this relation,

then it is better to end it than face any humliation.

you thought you were the only one who could say bye

but when you threatened to leave, our friendship had already died

You knew that I would never let you walk out

but this time my self respect won without a doubt.

you turned to be a foe and not a friend

and that's why I went ahead to say it was the end.