Team Raita

“Why did I do this to myself!”, I sighed as I rubbed my eyes sweeping away the last traces of sleep from my eyes. I mused how well I was settled like a sack of potatoes in my home at the hot and sweltering Patna with the mercury climbing in excess of 40 degrees. While in Patna, I begged God for some respite and here in the hills as I pulled over the sweatshirt over my head, suddenly those 40-odd degrees felt like the sweet warmth one feels in the embrace of one’s beloved. I sighed again and made my way out of the atariya in which I was sleeping. The view from the Atariya I stretched my arms to push away the last remnants of sleep and was mesmerized by the beauty around me. The sun rays sprinkling over the hills painting them in hues of greens that even the best artists would envy; towering above them were the snow capped peaks guarding us like sentinels from everything beyond them; the sweet scent of the apple orchard, where our base camp has been made filled my nostrils, al...

सामन्यतः हमारे घरों में एक प्राणी पाया जाता है. नर वर्ग का यह प्राणी आपको कहीं भी दिख सकता है. परंतु बचपन में अधिकांशत: लोग इसे देख नही पाते. बचपन मे आपने इस प्राणी के बारे में सिर्फ किंवदंतियां ही सुनी होगी. क्युंकि जब ये प्राणी घर में प्रस्तुत होता है , तब आप सुप्तवस्था में होते हैं. कुछ भाग्यशाली लोगों को छुट्टी के दिन में इनको देखने का लाभ प्राप्त होता था. खैर मेरी कहानी में तो बहुत सालों तक मैं तो इस प्राणी के बारे में बस इतना ही जानता था की इसके दो पैर होते हैं. क्योंकि डर के मारे हिम्मत ही नही होती थी की नज़र उठा के देखा जाये की ये दिखता कैसा है. तो अपन तो बस शुतुर्मुर्ग कि तरह रेत में सर घुसा के यही आशा करते थे की जैसे हम इसे नही देख पा रहें हैं , वैसे ही ये भी हमें देखने में विफल रहे. इस प्राणी के वैसे तो कई नाम हैं , लेकिन इस लेख कि दृष्टि से हम इस प्राणी को पापा कहके ही सम्बोधित करेंगे. वन-टू-थ्री नामक चलचित्र में श्री डिमेलो(ज़) यादव(ज़) अपने आपको ‘ पापा ’ कहलवाते थे क्युंकि वो बस पाना जानते थे. लेकिन अपने अनुभव में तो हमने इन्हें बस देते हुए ही देखा है. जब छोटे थे तो ...

This is second in the series of stories based on Seven Deadly Sins. Read the one on Wrath here. “Molice Station” The headlines shrieked referring to the molestation of the five girl students inside the police station where they had gone to register their complaint about the molestation by some perverts while they were out partying on the New Years’ Eve Masquerade Party in their college campus. The Indian culture brigade, including politicians known for their verbal diarrhea, had done their thorough analysis and was seen presenting their views on the news. “See, these girls are going against our Indian culture. First, they were wearing short clothes. Yes, sleeveless kurtis also come under short clothes category. Then they were eating chowmein. And then they were with boys. And they were out beyond midnight. All this is not Indian culture. This is the direct influence of western culture. And hence, they were molested. You see, they were provoking the boys. Lakshman ne mana...