piyalijigsaws

[piyalijigsaws]

Chapter 7

It’s been two years now. On late afternoon of May 10, Sean and Clive with their new battalion, they got orders to move out of Austria where they spend most of their time fighting the Germans. At 2200 hours the convoy began to roll, headlights on full beam. The men continued their party, drinking and singing in the back of the truck. Clive drove while Sean was shotgun. He was all healed now. Guess time does heal all wounds. He never got wounded again. Guess he learned to check his rear. When they arrived at their base in Rouen Sean and Clive parted from the rest of the troops.

They both drove by jeep on their way to the same port they came through sneaking. Now they could pay their respects to the fallen brother in arms. All have been conquered now. They didn’t have to hide anymore or dig up foxholes to live in.

They kept thinking what their life was going to be like once they go back home.

“What you gonna do man?” Sean asked.

“I don’t know” Clive answered. “I know it’s been only five years but this war felt like a lifetime.”

They both headed on their way when they recognized the neighborhood they were driving through. It’s been two years. The streets looked different. No more houses standing. Everything in ruins. Not a single shred of plantation. Only weeds here and there. They both restlessly looked around. Trying to find the house. The house where Elise and her children lived in. The same house that harbored the lovely family who provided shelter for them.

They got off the jeep. The house was still standing. But now roofless. Victim of a bombardment. They both thought. Clive looked at Sean with this blank stare. They didn’t have to say anything they both knew what had happened. War can be cruel to the most compassionate of people. War knows no boundaries.  Is this right? Couldn’t there be an alternative.

They stood there in silence.

   Fin.

[piyalijigsaws]

Chapter 6

The sun came out. It was warm and pleasant. Clive and Sean felt relieved. Sean was up long back he was worried if he could return but the pain killer was working fine.

“ah! You are up in the morning of five” Elise a delighted lady always.

Matt and Marie were still asleep. “Habits abide Madame” Sean said charmingly ignoring his pain.

“We should be get going Mrs. Elise” Clive informed seeing the routes calm.

“Have some breakfast at least?” worried for their journey and a fresh wound. Clive knew they had to hike a long way back to the headshed, climbing to cross the range of hills.

“Thank you Elise but we can’t afford time”

The urgency of reporting the stats of the enemies was panicking both of them. Elise understood from their look. She packed some essentials as soon as she could before they started to leave.

They were running out of time. But their vigor was alive to complete their mission. Clive wanted to see Marie once more and Sean wanted to say goodbye to his new friend.

“Come on hopper”Clive told Sean.

“Yes, Major.”a diligent sergeant replied. Sean bid farewells to Elise and paying gratitude with his eyes s they can never frame a sugar coated homage.

Elise saw them leaving and in no time the loyal comrades vanished in the snowy  white mountains.

 White,

They say, symbolises peace.

It stands for purity, innocence and perfection.

White, they claim, embodies positivity in all aspects.

But, white is not a sole colour,

It encompasses various others within

It holds in it the brightest and the darkest of times.

[piyalijigsaws]

Chapter 5

It’s my struggle and every time life takes away the best test from me

I promise to come up like a winter flower not escaping life.

When the little womb dries up without food I survived life,

When my mother has stopped giving me my milk, I have beaten fate.

At the most it is only you who fights;

It is only you who wakes up midnight and cry, and every time we fall off ,

we get up rubbing the dust off our shoulders and by our self preparing for the next day.

Still sometimes I see my mother dimming the lamp when I doze off while reading.

 “Here take some warm milk both of you”, Elise came with two old stainless steel glasses. A surprise, an elixir; for two malnutrition and wounded soldiers. The milk was little. Little, because of the wartime cleans over harvest. Little, because not everyone could retain the supplies. But the dexterity was much bounteous.

They gulped it like thirsty tigers.

Elise wanted to save these two comrades, help till her extremities. With Detachments and long gone husband, she knew perhaps that’s the most she can do as a little part of patriotism from her side.

“Mama I can see Uncle Sean’s tendons, it looks degusting.”Matt the curious child. Matt and Sean yielded in no time. Sean was a amusing in weird ways. He was an entertainer of the troop. He always pulled up the spirits of the troop.

“Does it hurt?”Matt’s inquisition didn’t stop for any sooner.

“No kid, it’s just a paper cut” not letting him know about the terrors of the bullet firings.

“I’m not dumb, did someone put a bang stick bullet at you?” matt hears firing and bombings all the time.

Elise had to put him to sleep few months back. Until one day a letter came and her mother’s veil of hiding his father’s death outgrew his tender age.

Matt trying to be faint, “every wound is recovered. “Changing the topic he asked what’s his favorite game and his future goals. Matt a small boy trying to man-up as soon as possible to support the two women in the house. Being treated like a kid was the least he wanted. His innocence and cheer in his face was fading.

Sean didn’t want that he kept kidding around and be a friend that he has been losing lately quite a many.

Clive didn’t like the excessive affection the Sean had structured in no time. He was giving him glares of a major ordering him to behave. Marie came with a first aid kit. She took out antiseptics, bandages and painkillers. They are always prepared as a family. They have all supplies and well-planned. Elise was a woman with independency in her guts. Their supplies only got shortened with food.

“sir, can I?” asking Sean to pull out his arm and leg to get the dressing done. Matt’s jaw was getting wider and wider with awe.

“Sean?” matt changed from ‘uncle’ to just ‘Sean’ due to the barriers of strangers were put down by Sean.

Sean not showing his pain smiled and said “yes matt”

“I think I want to be a doctor” not because of the idea of noble cause that doctor serves for the ailment. Because he was always fascinated by human body. “Marie can be my nurse” matt said jokingly to pull his elder sister’s leg. Marie gave him a nice smack and got back to serve her mother’s orders.

All this time Clive was teary eyed as Marie had his niece’s eyes. His niece was all alone in a boarding school. Fatherless. The only person Clive loved and longed to see was his niece.

Marie with just her aura sniped Clive back to the time of the jolly good days he had with his niece.

She wore a yellow ribbon around her neck. She wore it in springtime and when Uncle Clive asked why she wore it. She said she wore it for her lovely uncle who will leave her far away. Around the park she walked like a little baby. That’s the last Clive saw of her.

Marie’s yellow stained frock time travelled him. He wanted to initiate a talk. Kids, he thought can sweep all pain away.

Elise called for Marie to bring in the plates for supper knowing everyone must be starving. “Marie! Come give me a hand.”

“Are you done with the dressing?”

She is trying to make things fast. And dim the light as soon as possible.

Everyone sat for dinner.

Celery soup and bread. Better than the uncooked bird and the muddy porridge.

“We will be leaving at once the sun shows” Clive let Elise know. He didn’t want her to do much for them. Marie was making him wonder about his niece. The boarding school. Was it still there?

“No hustle, comrades.” Elise wanted them to understand that they weren’t the trouble-maker. Their life was turning black grey. It was good to have known of people who are fighting for them. For the people and their protection.

“Do not pressurize yourself, you can leave with ease.”

A kind lady.

Not every day they get to meet such people. They sighed if their co-comrades lived to have met them.

After they were done Clive helped with the plates. He then settled Sean to sleep the night. “Major you must take rest. Sorry for being rude after the attack”

He knew he was lucky to have Clive as his major.

“Shut up crack head and live.” Clive didn’t want the only entertainer and the golden heart he had.

Elise took matt for his night sleep.” Wish the comrades’ goodnight matt”

Marie came silently while his mother was handling his stubborn happy boy. She left after placing their warm blankets and pillows for Clive and Sean. Clive wanted to thank Marie for everything she had done. That also she looked much like his niece.  She is a sweet girl and she will have a uncle in Clive. All that came out was silence from his mouth.

 Lights dimmed and everyone started to live in a better world .A world full of dreams and not cruelty of war. Hoping for a better tomorrow.

“Mama will we get our father back?”Marie asked.

Elise had put matt to sleep and while she was tucking Marie in after combing her hair. She was proud of her daughter who acted like a grown-up and helped her mother in every possible way she could. But this question quenched her heart.

“I miss your father, sweet. But we have to do without him.” A hope she tried to show that everything is going to be better with a sadness hidden behind her lost husband.

Clive looked out for enemy and gleamed to the whining of night. Clive drank the beer that Elise left for him. The last stack of her husband’s.

  I am a drunken whisperer

When the world goes for a day slumber and the stiffened

orthodox introvert guy writes his love story behind his favourite red diary

I promise to be small canvas vest at the side being his only evidence of tears.

  I am a silent shell

When the football run pass away the big wall of his room taking it to the wind his

only share of secrets he sits there silently talking it all while from his broken

window pane.

  I am a graveyard

When the world runs after money and random shallow thoughts, I walk past

lives and death at the same place, where the body and soul finds separates way

  I am a silent word

When night shifts to daylight and the sky is filled with

through a door needing to speak how much words can pull yet not speaking it at all blinks,

I promise to walk.

[piyalijigsaws]

Chapter 4

Finally after a long spawn they came across a house at the end of the street. Seemed like candle light shining from inside. It must have been little more than a glorified shed even in its hay day. But now it looked for all the world like a giant had sat on the roof, for it sagged terribly. Guess we could call the war a giant. A giant of destruction. The windows were gaping holes for wind to rush in and out through and the door hung on its hinges at a jaunty angle. It outlasted all the others because it was made of concrete, except the roof.

“Think they would let us in?” Sean asked.

“The war has been cruel to them. I am not sure.” Clive answered. “We should at least try. I can’t dig up another hole.”

It was not considerably decent though. But they have been fighting for their cause. Whether they would be welcoming or not was up to their own beliefs. Which side they wanted to win.

Clive after a while walked up to the front door and knocked. He could hear noises inside which suddenly went quiet. They had to wait for a while and finally the door opened. A woman around her late thirties answered.

“Pouvons-nous vous aider?” She asked .

“Sorry do you speak English?” Clive asked.

 “Oui, can we help you” she asked again.

 “Sorry for the imposition Ma’am. We are soldiers from the Allied forces. We are on our way to Rouen. My friend, Sean here is wounded. Think you can let us stay the night here? We would be out of your way before sunrise.” Clive asked.

He could see the silence in her eyes. She was having trouble deciding whether or not she could trust them. Wasn’t her fault though. She looked puzzled but with a low pitched voice she asked them to come on in. Clive helped Sean in.

The view outside the house was quite dull. A garden filled with dead plants. Upon entering the house, simplicity and a balance of mesmerizing smell fills the living room contradictory to its outward appearance. Inside it was quite elegant and beautiful. She led them into the living room and offered them a seat. There was no electricity. A candle was lit at the center table. A brown table made of wood so old that you could see the rough edges.  “I am Elise.” She said. “Bonjour, I am Clive and this is Sean.” Clive said. “Do you live alone Elise?”“I have a son and a daughter.” Elise said. “They are five and seven.”“So why are you still here Elise? Isn’t it a bit dangerous?” Sean asked. Her face could be seen dimming. The question pinched her like a bullet. She went pale as if all the light from her face was taken away. Even though the candle was burning at its brightest. “We have nowhere else to go” She answered. “We have lived here all our life. This is our home.” Sean managed to be comfortable. It’s been a while but the wound was all dried up. He could move his arm around quite well. The fear of an infection was still prevalent. But there was no hospitals around. The medical staff were all recruited for the battleground. And those that didn’t qualify evacuated. There might still be some around helping out but it wasn’t easy to find them. “He doesn’t look good. Is he alright?” Elise asked. “He is fine. Can we have some water? We have been covering distance for a long time.” Clive added.  Elise left for the kitchen. She was a beautiful woman. But the war had got to her. You could see the wrinkles appearing for such a young woman. She didn’t have a husband. Or she did, he might be fighting in the war. They didn’t bother asking. Going down the memory lane would not help either her or them. When she returned she had her kids behind them. They were little.Matt and Marie. That’s what they were called. Matt handed the water to Sean. He seemed pretty interested with the wound. “How did you get that?” He asked.Sean didn’t know how to answer. He wasn’t sure if he should break it to the kid. The cruelty of a war. He looked up to Clive for an answer. Clive was about to answer when Elise said. “It’s from a bullet. They are old enough to learn about the war. If they are to survive.” She said. Marie on the other hand was terrified. There was nothing to be scared about their mom explained. They are our friends. They are fighting with your father for our Country.  “Have you met my father?” Marie asked. “He’s a hero”.“I have not met him. But I have heard about him.” Clive answered.“Can I get you something to eat?” Elise asked.“We would like that.” Sean answered.There’s not much they had for food the last two days. Last night’s supper was the only healthy thing they had in a while which. “Tasted like crap.” Sean would say. “We don’t want to put you through much Elise. Anything would be fine.” Clive said trying to be friendly.  He was famished. He could hear the thunderstorm in his gut. And water could not get rid of it. He did have to work harder. Carrying Sean all the way. All the training in the world doesn’t prepare anyone for the real stuff. Clive thought. But it did pay off. 

[piyalijigsaws]

Chapter 3

Wounds and the devastation of life that led the intensity among the men into new levels.

“Don’t let the hawk get you Sean!”, sounding like a major meaning as an elder brother.

Clive had seen worse and led through it like a raven. He was known for his tactful and rugged persona.

“It was a pleasant day major”Sean blurted “except for the lost bird, I don’t think I can get another one for supper”

Clive was always amused by his cock-up sergeant.

“stop wasting your breathe”, live said hastingly. Clive was thriving to save his sergeant hoping to escort him back to the hospital.

Sean was turning violet and Clive realized in this excruciating winter the only fruit that can give him relief was the fruit of fire.

“Clive you must take a knee.”, sean said hoping the winter would take off his life so that Clive would give up dragging his sabotaged body.

Amid the general rumble, the groans and voices of the Sean’s silent  wounds were more distinctly heard than any other sound in the darkness of the night that has started to engulf them.

“I need to find a pothole for us to dump ourselves.” bag dropping around the mountain cliff Clive spotted a dugout to lit a fire and warm Sean up so that they can proceed the next mornings.

   “The distant mountains may make us feel serene, we don’t have to rush to not miss the train”,sean feeling better after having the warmth of fire. Another blaze of fire was running across his body, his wounds.

“What do you mean?. To be able to live matters than to wait for it to end. Don't you think so? Clive responded in order to sound more like an ally than a major.

They were sitting around the fire and trying to keep themselves warm.

They got few dew drops to drink.

 I stand here alone, deserted,

I want to survive, I cried,

Have been doing so since days now.

Can you help me escape?

I am scared, you know.

It has been the darkest of times

When the wind is so strong that it makes me stumble,

And the nights are so dark that I can hardly see myself,

I am really scared, you see.

There is no storm inside me,

Just something hollow within.

I want to escape this, I really do.

Can you help me?

Even with the void within I have my hopes high

So, will you hold my hand and lead me to the known?

I am tired being lost for so long.

Can you rescue me from this gloomy loneliness?

Will you free me from myself?

  Clive hoped they would reach the head shed as soon as possible. But then all of a sudden he learned his tactics of the hideout of was unsuccessful. More attackers started hunting the survivors.

Whoever attacked didn't want survivors. Clive was only laying back for a while when Sean whispered to him grabbing his hand tightly with his left hand with whatever strength was left.

“ major clive,major! Roll out.”

Clive learnt the situation and cleverly made their way out of the dugout by distracting the attackers.

Perplexed with the situation he dragged Sean with all his strength, they sprinted to the farthest point. Striving to live. Live one more day.

[piyalijigsaws]

War Memoirs-Chapter 2

Chapter 2

It was supposedly an ordinary day spent in dank dugouts with the troop. Crumpled family photos and tranquil of living without the trauma of getting killed or killing.

It was ten past one in the noon when they felt the ground trembling with attack from the counter mates ordered to clear the hideouts. Bunch of well fed stray dogs had busted them and the troop was retraced.

Clive and Sean after feeding themselves with mud like pudding toiled around to look out for the enemies. Sean was smoking his cigarette after the gullible lunch and Clive looking to sharpen his blunt edged and sharp point knife to chop off a dead bird’s head for supper. Both kept checking for underground wirings too .Just like yesterday.

When all of a sudden tearing the swirling wind profile and Sean’s arm a bullet past crossed his arm.

Clive got alarmed by the sound of firing and Sean’s moaning.

Clive with his sonic like reflex gripped well his handle to aim the target. It spanned itself to cover the rotating distance needed to stick the tip of the aim, the enemy soldier. One soldier down bleeding to death from his neck, no one to give a helping hand. Five dead and a fellow comrade injured with muscle almost showing. The depth of the cut could be witnessed from the nausea that Sean felt. The force of the bullet almost stroked him to the sharp edged dried branch. Two cuts on the right side of his arm and leg almost gave him a paralytic stroke. But it was worse, deep wounds during the intoxicating winter breezes.

[piyalijigsaws]

War Memoirs- Chapter 1.3

No more of his crap. Clive didn’t have the patience. He was exhausted and the idea of spending the night by the side of the road seemed pretty good to him. “Alright let’s stop here.” He said.

He found a spot and took the shovel and started digging through the snow. It had to be big enough for the both of them.

“You’re slow man.” said Sean.

“Why don’t you try?” Clive asked.

“Very funny! I’ll shut up.” Sean said. “Give me some ammo. I’ll keep an eye out.”

The next hour it was constant staring of Sean towards the end of the road. There wasn’t much he could do while Clive dug his way around the snow and earth in between breaks.

“Go on faster man” Sean would say.

And Clive victim of all the hardship just ignored him.

Warfares end usually brutal form. It takes off lives.

[piyalijigsaws]

White Memoirs - Chapter 1.2

The bleeding had stopped. It was probably the cold that made him restless in pain. There was nothing Clive could do much but to find a place to keep both of them warm for the night. And there was still the possibility of getting colder by midnight. But that’s what they are trained to do. STAY ALIVE.

The thought of leaving him and making the journey on his own did cross Clive’s mind. But that would not be ideal as the major of their Regiment. He could feel the weight on his shoulders and was uncertain of how long he could keep it up. All he could do was keep walking the road together and move forward.

“I don’t think I can walk any longer. Let’s dig up a foxhole somewhere and spend the night here.” Sean said.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Clive said.

“Why not?” Sean asked.

“We don’t know where the enemy might be. And we don’t have much backups do we. It’s just me and your stupid ass getting shot.” Clive said.

“Hey! It’s not my fault I got shot. What the hell were you doing?” Sean said.

“Saving my own arse.” Clive said.

“Why in god’s name did I end up with you? The Irish bloke seemed nice.” Sean smirked.

[piyalijigsaws]

Attempts at writing..

[piyalijigsaws]

White memoirs-Chapter 1.1

Chapter 1

It was a cold September night. They were stranded soldiers from the Fifth Company Regiment. The Company Regiment was deployed two days ago just off the coast, the rocky island of Mont-Saint-Michel

The officers decided to send out a patrol to a nearby mountaintop to set up an observation post to look for enemy activity. Hence, clive ,Sean and three others from platoon set off towards the mountain.

Clive and sean both of them well-built, one a bit short and sturdy other ripped. Sean, he might not have the advantage in height but was clearly the stronger of the two if not for the wound. Clive on the other hand did not show any signs of fatigue but could not imagine the dreadful journey alone. He had Sean around his shoulder for almost an hour now. The city of Rouen is where they are supposed to rendezvous.

“One hell of a day man!” exclaimed Sean breathing heavily “I would have never guessed I would be the first to get injured. I would have pegged that old Irish bloke to be.”

“Shut up!” Clive said.

“Don’t tell me to shut up. I’m the one who’s dying here. I get to do what I want.” said Sean.

“Let me get you to a hospital soon.” Clive said even though he could see no signs of life as far as his eyes can go. The only reason they were able to navigate through the narrow road was the bright moon. “Got lucky, I guess.” Clive thought.

“Where do you think we goddamn are?” Sean exclaimed.

“In the middle of fucking nowhere. Forget hospital find a place I can die peacefully or leave me here.”

“You’ll live. It’s just a flesh wound.” Clive said. “But keep getting on my nerves and I’ll make sure won’t see the sunrise tomorrow.”

............................................................ Continued

[piyalijigsaws]

Book Review on “God of Small Things” by Arundhati Roy

“The god of everything” is written by the well known writer-activist Arundhati Roy. This book is a pinnacle achieved in brilliance by among-st the Indian writers.

The writing pattern has a rich texture of minimalism with a lyrical style making it cleverly crafted. It has easy vocabulary but lots of metaphors are used. It keeps one bonded till the end as there is no direct contact to the main story.

Central story is about a Indo-Syrian family,a Siamese twins,Rahel and Estha  who are separated physically but united by soul, a divorced tempest mother-Ammu, an ex-nun and grandaunt-Baby Kochamma and their family tree. . Her characters has an extraordinary emotional depth which unfolds with the unraveling of memories.

The essence of the novel is created with the blooming innocence of the children. In every page there is a link to exploitation smeared with her characters in one way or the other. Apart from that India as the medium of cultural exchange and the inciting of globalization is extracted .The  events portrayed are encountered in a  small village of Kerela,Ayemenem.  .

The novel’s title imply the weak god of small things is defenseless and vulnerable to the big gods of social machines  and of traditional weights of customs. The god that defines the laws whom to love and whom not to like the fatal affair of Ammu with the untouchable,Velutha or the closeness of the twins.The moment we get attached to a character a haunting turn takes place and smacks  us back to disowning the reality of cruel Indian society.

She has denounced about women deprivation inside or outside household  , an example of exploitation had been seen with Ammu ,women workers and the loss of Sophie mol. Another example was with the lower wages and considering woman as means of uprising the capital

The Arundhati Roy has used her ink as the venom to raise voice against all the hypocritical individuals who are self proclaimed communists like her character- Chakko and dictator of cultural ethos-Baby kochamma. Her aim seems to be exposing all those who camouflage equality but manipulate means to their own benefit and the orbits of powerful and the powerless. If we deduce all of this will have a dead end If it is not protected like the pickle factory; if we are living in the tyranny of injustice, dishonesty and hypocrisy it will disintegrate the capital enterprise gradually.

The novel can be critically acclaimed as well as appreciated for its multi-directional preview dig over certain political issues such as cast-ism,incest, oppression,untouchable,feminism and under privileged tribes prevailing in India. Therefore ,the story revolves around oppressed members, marginalized members, unprotected children and power under many guises .The god of small things is heartbreaking but beautiful and tied to love,loss and laws.

                                                                                                  -a review on “the god of small things” by

                                                                                                  Piyali Dey